The CPI(M) has urged the Centre to impose restrictions on import of natural rubber. Citing the “pathetic situation” of rubber farmers in the country, the party said unrestrained import of natural rubber into the country was a major factor in the freefall of domestic prices of rubber in the past several months.
In a letter to Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, CPI(M) MP KN Balagopal, who is also a member of the Rubber Board, said: “The prices of natural rubber have reached the lowest point now. The free fall in prices, thanks to the high volumes of import, is still continuing and pushing the rubber farmers into a deep financial crisis. If this trend is allowed to continue, it may lead to farmer suicides and a majority of them will be alienated from rubber cultivation.” He said import of natural rubber had more than doubled in the last few years at a time when the stock of natural rubber in India was more than 2,40,000 tonnes.
He said even though a signatory in the free trade agreement with the ASEAN countries, the Government could limit the import of natural rubber by implementing various measures, such as anti-dumping and other safeguards. “When such an option is well before us, the Government should go for it and control the import,” he added in the letter.