SURAT THANI, Dec 9 — Rubber growers here who say they are in trouble due to the market price falling to Bt35 per kilogram petitioned the provincial governor today calling on the government to step in to shore up the rubber price
Growers from Wiang Sa district gathered at Surat Thani provincial hall presenting their letter to the prime minister through provincial governor Chatpong Chatphuti.
They demanded that the government help push rubber prices to Bt80 per kilogram for rubber sheet, Bt80 per kilogram of rubber sheet and Bt30 per kilogram of scrap rubber.
When the governor promised to forward the letter to the prime minister directly, the growers left the provincial hall.
Elsewhere in the South, farmers in Trang province must sell latex at Bt35-36 per kilogram and many must sell their stock of rubber sheet to make ends meet.
They have kept the stock in vain for a few months awaiting a better price.
Some farmers are either selling their rubber plantations or felling rubber trees to grow oil palm or other crops instead.
A Trang rubber grower leader said farmers planned no road blockage yet but would await solutions from the government until the end of the month.
