The Public Warehouse Organisation was today (Tuesday) instructed by the cabinet to buy directly from rubber farmers 100,000 tonnes of raw rubber and rubber sheets at “leading” market price.
Current market price averages 35 baht/kg and it is expected that the “leading” or above-market price offered by the PWO will help drive the market price up.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said officials concerned would go directly to rubber farmers to buy rubber at price agreed upon by the two parties. Local cooperatives may be brought in to help out in the purchases, he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said talks today between rubber farmers’ representatives and authorities concerned went on smoothly with the farmer now having positive understanding of the government.
As for the new rubber board which is yet to be formed, the problem pointed out that the delay in the setting up of the panel stems from disagreement within the farming sector because several leading figures have wanted seats in the panel.
He asked for sympathy and understanding from rubber farmers saying that the government cannot afford to buy all the rubber and have them stored in warehouses and then left to rot.
The rubber to be bought from farmers by the PWO will be utilized and processed into products with added value by SMEs supported by the government.
He asked for advice from the media about how to do with 2.6 million tonnes of rubber surplus from the annual yield of 4 million tonnes with 1.4 million tonnes expected to be exported