APK urges Rubber Board to desist from promoting block rubber production

KOCHI: The Association of Planters of Kerala (APK) has said that move by the Rubber Board to encourage the block rubber production in India will help the large consuming industry at the cost of the farmers who are struggling due to low prices and high cost of production.

At present, the farmers are receiving more than 90% of the price as their farm gate price. However, the proposed shift in processing will fetch them lower price compared with the sheet rubber and it will also make him dependent on the block rubber processing factories, said C Vinayaraghvan, APK chairman.

The RSS grade sheet rubber can be produced at the backyard of the farmers and they can hold the stock till the prices are at acceptable level. The block rubber production is high in power consumption and the cost of effluent treatment. The association feels that all such costs will be reduced from the ISNR prices and the balance will be transferred to the farmer.

The block rubber manufactured from latex is generally graded as ISNR 5, which is equivalent to RSS 1of sheet rubber. Sheet rubber is better in quality than block rubber, which results in better price realization for the former both internationally and domestically. In the international market, sheet price is about Rs 15 more than the block rubber price.

The association urged the Rubber Board and the Central Government to stop such anti farmer initiatives immediately.