Rubber growers calls for help from government

SONGKHLA, July 13 (TNA) – Representatives of rubber growers from Songkhla and nearby provinces will gather at the Songkhla city hall this afternoon, demanding the government to tackle sagging prices of para rubber. Preecha Sukkasem, the secretary-general of the Federation of Songkhla Farmers said that rubber growers have encountered the problem of falling para rubber price for two months. Today, they will submit a letter to the government and agencies concerned to help farmers after the rubber prices fall to 38-41 baht per kilogramme from 70 baht per kilogramme. He said the federation has already informed the provincial authority in advance about the move, so the authorities will send representatives to meet rubber growers and to listen to their problems. In the short term, rubber growers demand that the government prop up para rubber prices to stay over 70 baht per kilo and reduce interest rate of financial institutions for farmer loan to a maximum of three per cent. For the long term solution, they suggest the government promotes the use of para-rubber across the country and draws more major investors to invest in para rubber and related industries. (TNA)