Task force seeks import curbs on rubber

Task force seeks import curbs on rubber

What has happened?

The first meeting of the joint task force set up to study the problems faced by rubber farmers in Kerala has decided to work on increasing the production incentive for farmers and curbing the import of rubber

Call for Centre’s help

The meeting also called for support from the Central government to prevent farmers from giving up rubber cultivation against the backdrop of high input costs and slump in prices of rubber

Rubber as an agricultural crop

One of the major items that was taken up for discussion at the meeting was to consider rubber as an agricultural crop rather than a commercial produce, paving the way for the declaration of minimum support price and financial support under the income doubling scheme for farmers.

State’s demand

• State representatives on the task force highlighted the need to include rubber in the livelihood security box under trade treaties to protect the interests of the large number of small and marginal farmers in the sector.
• They also called for a total ban on import of cup lump rubber, stringent standards for imported rubber and steps to prevent dumping of cheap rubber products.

Plantation subsidy

The meeting discussed in detail the need to revise plantation subsidy, extend the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to the plantation sector and promote the use of rubber as an additive for bitumen.