Rubber Producers Societies need turning to product manufacturing to survive: Rubber Board

New Delhi, Dec 16 (KNN) The Rubber Producers’ Societies (RPSs) have succeeded in the collectivisation of unorganised rubber farmers and now it is the need of the hour to find a space in the product-making sector, said Sawar Dhanania, chairman of the Rubber Board on Thursday.

While addressing a seminar on the topic ‘Scope of Farmer Producer Organisations in the rubber sector’ in Kottayam, Dhanania said that entry of the RPSs in product manufacturing with the support of FPOs is essential for the survival and sustainability of the rubber farming sector.

Speaking on the occasion, T. K. Jose, chairman of the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission, said the FPOs in the natural rubber (NR) sector should find opportunities to develop new rubber-based products and start initiatives for entrepreneurship in the non-tyre sector.

“If the FPOs can take advantage of the potentials of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, many of the persisting issues will be solved,” he added.

Answering the queries of rubber farmers, Rubber Board executive director K. N. Raghavan said farmers should utilise all possible income-generating sources from the sector itself.

“In the present scenario, farmers cannot find solutions for the losses owing to low rubber prices by depending on the financial support alone from the governments. Carbon trading, sustainability certification and so on are new areas which can generate extra income for rubber farmers, and the board has started an initiative to explore such opportunities in the rubber farming sector,” he said.

K. A. Unnikrishnan, vice chairman, Rubber Board, was also present at the event.  (KNN Bureau)