“Fifteen rubber planters’ groups have merged to create the Rubber Planters’ Assembly to solidify their positions and unify demands.
Uthai Sornlaksap, leader of the rubber planters’ network, will become acting chairman of the new body. Representatives of the groups made the announcement on Thursday.
The move is in line with Prime Minister Prayut Chanocha’s suggestion that they join hands in stating their demands.
“From now on, when planters face difficulties, their calls for help will come from a resolution of the assembly,” Uthai said.
Assembly member Sunthorn Rakrong said the network earlier sought a revision of the Rubber Council of Thailand bill to reallocate the money collected to the Rubber Fund for integrated industry development. In the latest revision, 5 percent will go to helping planters survive a price slump.
“This shows when we join hands, our calls will more likely receive a favorable response,” he said.
Rubber prices declined for almost a year in line with oil prices. They began to pick up last month after Monsoon floods hit a large portion of rubber plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia, the two major producers after world’s largest supplier Thailand. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said five glove producers, the Asean Rubber Glove Association and the Thai Rubber Association had agreed to buy unlimited quantities of rubber to shore up local price to 80 baht a kilogram. The Government Savings Bank will also extend soft loans to operators to upgrade their rubber glove machinery while Krungthai Bank will give low interest loans to the operators so they can build larger stocks.
“I insist this can be done. Bringing the rubber price to 80 baht a kg is a piece of cake but we must gradually adapt ourselves. I’m convinced the price will go to 80 baht [per kg] in a month,” said Prawit.
Among the companies joining the meeting were Sri Trang AgroIndustry Plc, Southland Rubber Co. Ltd., Thai Rubber Industry Co. Ltd. and Thai Rubber Latex Corporation (Thailand). The price of raw rubber sheet at Songkhla market was unchanged at 58.30 baht a kg at 3.49 pm on Thursday while ribbed smoked rubber sheet No.3 (RSS3) was steady at 62.90.