PM assigns Agriculture Ministry to tackle rubber price issue

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PM assigns Agriculture Ministry to tackle rubber price issue

By Thai PBS

 

 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives has been assigned to resolve rubber prices and related problems as a whole with emphasis on taking care of rubber planters, said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha over the weekend.

 

He explained that issues to be considered by the ministry include zoning of rubber planting areas, shifting of old rubber trees to other crops, grouping of rubber planters, rubber processing and delay in the sale of rubber latex.

 

He disclosed that the ministry would call a meeting this week with representatives of rubber planters nationwide in a bid to find solutions to all the pertinent problems.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-assigns-agriculture-ministry-tackle-rubber-price-issue/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-12-04

 

[Chris Lawrence]

They could corner the market in women's condom'. The perfect one has not yet been invented. 

 

But really how is he going to improve the world market price?

[cornishcarlos]

I know, they could buy it from the farmers at double market value. Stockpile it until the rest of the world runs out of rubber, then make a fortune by cornering the market.

 

That would work, wouldn't it ?

[Dave67]

The rubber scheme keeps bouncing back

[Get Real]

They can use it for protection on the walls for all the rooms in all the new mental hospitals it seems like they will have a big need for. 

[JAG]

I know, they could buy it from the farmers at double market value. Stockpile it until the rest of the world runs out of rubber, then make a fortune by cornering the market.
 
That would work, wouldn't it ?

Almost certainly what they will do...

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[KMartinHandyman]

I thought they had this all worked out with Chinese contracts.

[Cadbury]

There is no denying there is world slump in the price of rubber. Even with the self acclaimed brilliance of PM Prayut he has the job ahead of him doing something about that.

However there appears to be a problem exclusive to Thailand’s rubber which is caused by the farmers themselves who cheat on quality. Perhaps the PM might be able to help with that.

It was reported in the middle of last year in a Thai news source that:

-       Major tyre manufacturers threaten to stop buying rubber from Thai farmers because of low quality caused by them adding sulphuric acid to the process which causes reduced flexibility. Evidently the sulphuric acid helps the farmers by making the latex coagulate more quickly.

 

-       Traders and industry officials said leading tyre makers including Michelin and Bridgestone have complained about the lower quality of rubber which mostly comes from the North and North-East.

 

-       Some local rubber factories have declined to buy rubber from local farmers according to the director of Nongkhai Central rubber Market.

 

-       The factories say that they put sulphuric acid in the latex during the tapping process which dampens the quality of the rubber latex. The sulphuric acid in turn reduces the flexibility of the rubber which then causes problems in the process of the tyre makers.

 

It seems in the land of scams the rubber farmers are up there with the best. Now they want government subsidies/handouts/assistance to offset their loss of revenue caused by their own self benefiting but poor farm practices.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 4, 2017 by Cadbury

[Ulic]

I just wonder why the price of memory foam pillows and mattresses has not 

come down with the fall of rubber prices. 

[Eric Loh]

The biggest buyer and market for natural rubber is China for the growing tire production and they a step ahead all the time. Chinese businessmen have been buying and investing in lower costs Laos and Cambodia and owning large rubber plantations via generous investment packages by respective governments. China is already buying large quantity of natural rubber from these countries and the future for Thailand looks dim. The new agriculture minister will have his work all cut up. He has to tackle the high production cost, find a way to negotiate with the Chinese, create more demand via innovation and find a supply and demand equilibrium. Probably the best chance is to develop a plan and financing to get the farmers to switch crops.   

[Media1]

The rain man has assigned a new rubber man. Which will result in some helicopter money and a story. They are extremely desperate now..Probably on medication

[Jonah Tenner]

They could use the rubber to make checks so they can pay China for the tanks and submarines