Office-bearers of the Indian Farmers’ Movement (INFAM) alleged that the country’s rubber farmers were left disappointed after the Union Ministry of Commerce called for a meeting of rubber sector stakeholders but failed to initiate any corrective measures to stimulate the sector.
“The farmers, who expected certain quick steps from the Central Government to control the fall in rubber prices, now feel humiliated. Instead, the government constituted a committee to estimate the production cost. It may be recalled that the new committee was constituted at a time when detailed accounts of production cost are already available with the Rubber Board,” said INFAM national general secretary V. C. Sebastian.
He also pointed out that the Union Minister’s claim that “base price could not be announced for rubber as it is not a cash crop” was wrong as per Provision-13 of the Rubber Act. The previous governments had announced base price for rubber. Along with base price, the government should announce base price for imported rubber as well.
The allegation by industrialists that the rubber produced in Kerala is of substandard quality is aimed at promoting imports.
INFAM had also raised allegations that the meeting, which was convened in a hurry, was a farce. MPs from rubber-growing states, Rubber Board officials, office-bearers of various rubber-related organisations and farmers were invited to the meeting.
“The Rubber Board prepared the notice of the meeting on August 17 only, and the stakeholders were intimated after that. INFAM had pointed out that it would be impractical for MPs, farmers and officials to reach Delhi for the one-hour meeting at short notice.”