The United Planters’ Association of Southern India (Upasi) has urged the Centre to curtail unrestricted imports of natural rubber immediately.
“The crisis in the rubber sector continues unabated. Over a million growers and half a million workers will be in dire straits. Many small and medium growers have stopped tapping, bringing down September production in September to 60,000 tonnes from 80,000 tonnes in the same period a year ago. Non-remunerative prices and increasing costs of wages and fertilisers will make more growers stay away from tapping,” said Upasi President Vijayan Rajes in a statement.
“Price of the largely-traded RSS IV grade has crashed to ₹120 a kg from ₹165 this time last year and ₹243 in April 2011. This is due to import of 3.25 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 against 2.17 lakh tonnes the previous year. Where is the justification to import 3.25 lakh tonnes when production is 8.44 lakh tonnes and consumption is just 9.81 lakh tonnes?” he wondered.
“Besides, imports during peak production season suppress prices. So, there should be a mechanism to monitor imports and Government should cap the quantity before it damages the domestic rubber industry. Till September, 2.26 lakh tonnes had been imported compared to 1.81 lakh tonne last year,” he said.
– The Hindu
