Thai rubber farmers recently staged demonstrations in Bangkok and other localities to demand the government’s intervention to stabilise rubber prices.
They request an increase of rubber prices to 100 THB (3.22 USD) per kg, about 30 percent higher than the market price of 73 THB per kilo on October 28.
Last month, the Thai government approved a budget of 20 billion THB to help rubber farmers cope with higher production costs following similar demonstrations in September.
However, the Bangkok Post quoted protest leader Teerapong Kaewnual as saying that the offer of subsidy at 2,520 THB per rai of rubber plantation (6.25 rai = 1ha) does not meet farmers' needs. He said most farmers do not have land ownership documents, making them ineligible for the subsidy.
Thailand is the world's biggest rubber producer and exporter. It produces around 3.8 million tonnes of rubber sheet a year, around a third of the world's output, and exports 90 percent of that amount.
The price of Thai rubber sheet is little changed from the end of 2012, due to weak demand from China and other big consumers.-VNA
They request an increase of rubber prices to 100 THB (3.22 USD) per kg, about 30 percent higher than the market price of 73 THB per kilo on October 28.
Last month, the Thai government approved a budget of 20 billion THB to help rubber farmers cope with higher production costs following similar demonstrations in September.
However, the Bangkok Post quoted protest leader Teerapong Kaewnual as saying that the offer of subsidy at 2,520 THB per rai of rubber plantation (6.25 rai = 1ha) does not meet farmers' needs. He said most farmers do not have land ownership documents, making them ineligible for the subsidy.
Thailand is the world's biggest rubber producer and exporter. It produces around 3.8 million tonnes of rubber sheet a year, around a third of the world's output, and exports 90 percent of that amount.
The price of Thai rubber sheet is little changed from the end of 2012, due to weak demand from China and other big consumers.-VNA
