With the price of natural rubber hitting a five-year low, various organisations and governmental agencies are now pacing towards a paradigm
Shift, sorting out strategies to save the sinking market. The natural rubber procurement process has gained some momentum with the state government looking forward to develop a sense of security in the buyers who have been showing resistance following moderate losses lately.
By the third week of April, the price of natural rubber plunged to a five-year low at `138 per kg over concerns of muted demand, over supply in the global market and plunging international prices.
By the first week of May, the price has climbed back to a wavering `141. The government has decided to rejuvenate the much-trumpeted rubber procurement programme which failed to bring any benefit till the day owing to lack of funds. Quality Check In view of an insecure open market and the recent drop in prices, the Rubber Board is envisaging a number of future-oriented projects that could ensure sustainability and self-sufficiency.
According to Rubber Board chairman Sheela Thomas, a certification programme was launched recently to ensure the quality of the product.
The nation-wide publicity campaign labeled ‘Quality Planting Materials and Certification’ proposes an analysis programme that will be conducted across the country in which rubber growing nurseries will get certified on the basis of the quality of the product. The area under rubber plantation has increased.
Ensuring the quality of rubber buds is essential for the sustainability of the rubber industry, said Sheila Thomas. The certification provided to the rubber nurseries is meant to ensure the quality of buds that are made available for planting. In the first phase, the certification procedure will be implemented in the nurseries of the Rubber Board. It has been decided to ensure special criteria for the production of saplings and its maintenance to ensure certification of nurseries.
Through the publicity programme, the Rubber Board envisages spreading awareness among around 1 lakh small-scale rubber farmers and local nursery owners in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka during the period from May 2 to June 13.