The Hindu : Kerala News : Rubber farmers urged to boycott market

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 20, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Rubber farmers urged to boycott market

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, SEPT. 19. The Indian Rubber Manufacturers' Federation (IRMF) has decided to boycott the rubber market till the price reaches the level of Rs.200 a kg.

This was decided at a meeting of the national working committee of the Federation here today, the chairman of the Federation, K.T.Mathew, said in a statement.

The rubber sheets required by the tyre industry are made only in India. While global tyre manufacturers use rubber and plastic in the ratio 40:60, it is 80:20 in Kerala.

Consequently, the industry would be seriously affected if the Kerala farmer boycotts the market.

Requirement to go up

The gravity of the situation could be gauged from the fact that the automotive industry had registered a 40 per cent growth in 2004. This would mean that the requirement of rubber would go up by 40 per cent.

In addition, the tyre industry is moving towards radial tyres which require 80 per cent rubber constituent.

Pointing out that the tyres made by using the plastic component have been discarded by road safety bodies, he said the need for rubber would go up again.

Because of the climatic changes in Kerala, there has been a deficit in production to the extent of 30 per cent in rubber plantations since January 2004.

As such, there would be a 9 lakh tonne shortage in rubber production.

This would further boost the rubber prices, he said and urged all farmers to cooperate with the boycott.

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