RUBBER planters in Thailand have voiced out their resistance against the continued falling prices of rubber, and urge the Government to start buying up rubber at 28% above current market prices.
The planters are seeking Government intervention in the market by buying raw rubber sheets at 92 baht per kg, third-grade smoked rubber sheets (RSS3) at 101 baht, rubber latex at 81 baht and block rubber at 83 baht per kg.
The sector is in tight ropes when the Yingluck Shinawatra government directs its focus on rice farmers even despite the rubber being their valuable export product.
Rubber farmers have threatened roadblocks in four regions of the country on Sept 3 in protest against the seeming inaction of the Government, says Terdsak Sermsri, chairman of the Rubber Planters Network of Thailand.
He said that representatives of planters nationwide agreed they will turn down proposals made by the National Rubber Committee in the recent week, which were more for long-term development and include measures that will reduce production costs and increase the output of value-added processed rubber.
According to report, weak demand in the sluggish global economy has pushed the price of unsmoked rubber sheets down to between 70 and 72 baht per kg this month from 100 baht a year ago. Terdsak said the price was expected to fall below 70 baht per kg next month during peak of harvest.