‘Centre should step in to address crisis of rubber growers’

Thiruvananthapuram: Agriculture minister V S Sunil Kumar told the assembly on Wednesday that government was keen on increasing the support price of rubber to Rs 250/kg, but the same wouldn't be possible unless the Union government steps in to address the crisis of rubber growers.
The minister was responding to a calling attention motion by Mons Joseph MLA, demanding a special packager for crisis-ridden rubber sector. Joseph said a special package was very much urgent and the support price for rubber should be increased from Rs 150 to Rs 250 at least. Of the 10 lakh rubber growers, only 4.5 lakh growers get the benefits of price stability fund. Steps should be taken so that all growers get the benefit of price support mechanism, he said.

Sunil Kumar said the state government has limitations. “The central government shows abject neglect towards rubber growers. We have submitted to the Union government appointed task force that the Centre should contribute a share to the support price fund. The Union government has not recognised rubber growing as agriculture. Unless the Centre stops considering it as industrial produce, it would be impossible to claim the benefits of agriculture to rubber cultivation,” he said.