BANGKOK, 2 September 2013 Northern rubber farmers have promised to not set up a road blockade in Uttaradit on Tuesday as planned.
Representatives of rubber growers in 17 northern provinces responded to the government’s claim to solve the flagging rubber price in 15 days by saying that they are willing to give state bodies until September 13 to realize their promise.
Meanwhile, over 2,000 rubber and oil palm planters from three southern provinces including Ranong, Chumphon and Prachuap Kiri Khan gathered in front of the Chumphon town hill to pressure the government on the price issue. 100-strong policemen were dispatched to the site to maintain peace and order.
The government has offered to raise the raw sheet rubber price to 80 baht per kilogramme and subsidise rubber cultivation at 1,260 baht per rai up to a maximum of 10 rai per farmer. The demonstrators are demanding a guaranteed price of 120 baht a kilo for smoked rubber sheets.
