The Thai government opened 3,000 purchase sites across the country to buy rubber from rubber farmers.
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Mr Surapol Jarupong spokesman said that the Rubber Authority of Thailand will buy 100,000 tons of all type of rubber products directly from 2,000 farmers in the South and 1,000 farmers in the northern and northeastern regions.
The rubber will be sold to manufacturing factories to produce mattresses, gloves and tyres, he said to Rubber India Weekly. Each rubber farmer can only sell up to 150 kilograms to the government.
Director-general of the Department of Rural Roads Mr. Pisak Jitviriyavasin said to Rubber India Weekly that eight asphalt producers agreed to buy rubber latex for existing road construction projects.
The producers have agreed to buy rubber latex at the price of 45 baht per kilo from the RAOT, where the cost price stands at 36 baht. All sides concerned have also agreed to prepare warehouse for increased rubber supplies.
Army spokesman Winthai Suvaree said to Rubber India Weekly that Army chief Gen Theerachai Nakvanich instructed Army agencies concerned to prepare to use rubber based on each agency’s needs to help shore up the domestic rubber price.
He said the Thai Army will buy latex from planters to produce defense equipments and medical supplies to use in the army hospital.
Natural rubber will be bought for different purposes such as as mixtures for road construction as well as latex mattresses, pillows, shoes and gloves for officers, he said.