Kottayam: In a historic move, rubber farmers in Kerala have announced to stop rubber sales as they face the grim reality of not even recovering their production costs, which amounts to Rs 200 per kilogram. The National Confederation of Rubber Producers Unions (NCRPS), has called on farmers to stop selling rubber until the price exceeds Rs 200 per kilogram, marking the first time such a protest has been staged in the industry’s history.

According to NCRPS. National President V.V. Antony and General Secretary Babu Joseph, local tyre companies are deliberately reducing the price of domestic rubber to recover losses incurred from purchasing international supplies at higher prices. They also claim that tyre companies have been heavily importing rubber, filling their warehouses while local farmers are left with little support.

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Despite gathering rubber from farmers, neither the state nor the central government has stepped in to stabilise the market or intervene in the price crisis. The farmers have demanded the immediate resumption of rubber stockpiling by the government. Should this not happen, they insist that the minimum support price for rubber be raised to Rs. 250 per kilogram under the incentive package.

The NCRPS leadership has also accused tyre companies of deceiving both the government and farmers by importing compounded rubber from ASEAN countries at 5-10% import revenue, further undercutting local prices.

As part of their protest, the organisation plans to hold conventions and vehicle rallies in the southern regions of the state in November, targeting rubber producers. Additionally, a sit-in protest will be held in December in front of the Director General of Foreign Trade’s office in Kakkanad, Ernakulam.