Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Oct 16: The price of natural rubber which collapsed during Covid has not risen even after three years. The demand from China is also reduced, which has hit the export industry badly.

The price of natural rubber was Rs 250, ten years ago. Now it is sold at just Rs 140 per kilo. The rate is decided in the international market. Due to the hardship faced by Chinese industries, the local rubber growers are in difficulty. In Karnataka, there are around 60000 rubber farmers, who grow 40000 metric tonnes of natural rubber on 55000 hectares of land. There is demand for around 60000 metric tonnes annually.

Natural rubber is mainly grown in districts of Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan and Mysuru. After Covid there is steady decline in the price. Now the cost of production is more than the selling price. The rubber growers are feeling insecure.

Rubber prices have seen a severe slump in Karnataka. In Kerala the government is encouraging rubber growers by giving them a minimum support price. Kishore Kumar Kodgi, president of Campco says that he has appealed to CM to implement the MSP scheme like Kerala in Karnataka also.

In Kerala, the government has fixed a minimum price of Rs 170 for RSS-4 and RSS-5 grades of natural rubber. In order to get the difference in price, the growers have to submit a certificate of purchase provided by officials of the rubber board.

Around 90% of India’s natural rubber is produced in Kerala. In Karnataka, the farmers of south districts are producing 40000 metric tonnes of natural rubber but now facing hardship due to slump in prices according to deputy divisional manager of rubber board B Rajesh.