Owners of rubber farms in North Cotabato, Philippines urged the Department of Agriculture to look into the continuing decline of prices of their products.
Datu Boy Imba, a senior official of the Free Rubber Tappers’ Association in the province, said rubber cup lumps, and processed, dried latex are bought by buyers for Php48 a kilo, only half of last year’s buying price.
Imba said members of their organization suspect that a “powerful cartel” of traders engaged in marketing of rubber products is manipulating the procurement prices in the province.
“We know that there is a big demand for rubber products abroad yet we here are experiencing this situation now. The government should look into this,” Imba said.
Imba said local officials in the province are unable to answer why prices of rubber products are falling.
Most buyers of rubber products in the province are based in Makilala town.