THAILAND: Rubber farmers step up pressure as prices plummet

Rubber planters have threatened to protest after prices plummeted to the lowest level in 10 years, saying some of them no longer afford to send their children to school.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was quick to point out they could face lawsuits if they protest, but promised to continue aid and relief measures.

Raw rubber sheets were 34.05 baht a kg while RSS3 was 34.12 baht on 7 Jan 2016, down 0.20 baht and 0.39 respectively in line with global oil prices. Other factors affecting the prices are the sluggish Chinese economy, as well as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula. Rubber farmers urged the government to provide temporary relief by guaranteeing a price of not less than 60 baht a kg. The government last year approved compensation of 1,500 baht a rai but the planters said the procedure to apply for it was complicated.

Yuso Ake, who led a network of farmers in the six lower southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla, Satun and Phattalung, told newsmen on 7 Jan 2016 the rubber farmers were on their last legs. "Some of us no longer have the money to send our children to school," he claimed.

The network has already submitted a proposal to the government. They want the government to set up factories that use rubber as a raw material to make products for local use such as car tyres. Authorities should also keep rubber prices above cost, which they claim is 62 baht a kilogramme.

Source: Daily “The Bangkok Post”, Bangkok; 7 Jan 2016
(Syed Rashid Ali, Karachi, Pakistan)