Rubber planters and tappers have called on the government not to deny subsidies to small-scale rubber institutes, community enterprises and cooperatives after the Natural Rubber Policy Committee agreed to inject 20 billion baht to shore up rubber prices.
Jarin Thamdee, a core member of the network for rubber farmers, said the proposed subsidy, which requires cabinet approval, should not be limited to large-scale entrepreneurs, but also go to struggling small-scale entities.
Last week, the Natural Rubber Policy Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, decided to take measures to tackle low rubber prices, including a 20 billion baht loan package.
According to the Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Grisada Boonrach, the loans are intended for entrepreneurs, who agree to purchase and stockpile rubber.
Mr Jarin said community enterprises and cooperatives should also get financial support from the government. "The enterprises buy rubber and set up processing facilities but all they lack is cash. So the subsidy should also reach them too, not just the big entrepreneurs," he said.
Ruengyos Pengsakul, chairman of a community enterprise for rubber planters and tappers, said certain regulations under the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAT) Act are denying them from getting financial support.
"We are being deprived by the law. We have called on the government to make changes but our calls are falling on deaf ears," he said.
He said the farmers will demand the removal of RAT governor Tiratch Suksaard for his failure to tackle falling rubber prices, hoping the move would lead to a policy change. According to planters and tappers, the central market, overseen by RAT, has only bought a small quantity of rubber, leaving them short of cash.
