Southern rubber planters arrive in Bangkok to demand government’s help

[webfact]

Southern rubber planters arrive in Bangkok to demand government’s help



BANGKOK: -- Small rubber plantation owners from Nakhon Si Thammart, Surat Thani and Chumporn have travelled to Bangkok to submit a petition to the agriculture minister asking for subsidy to shore up declining rubber price.

Mr Saksarith Sriprasart, leader of the protesting rubber planters, warned Monday that they might stage a bigger protest or might resort to road blockade in the southern region as they did before if the plea went unheeded.

He said that the price of rubber latex has now fallen to 30 baht per kilogramme which is too low for them to afford workers to tap the latex and it is more preferable for many plantation owners to let their workers to take a temporary rest or to find other jobs as an alternative which promises higher pay.

He urged the government to quickly come to their rescue claiming that the situation has arrived at a critical point.

Rubber planters have demanded that the government subsidise the price of latex at 60 baht a kilogramme and to accelerate the utilization of rubber for road pavement and manufacturing of rubber-based products to add value to raw rubber.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/southern-rubber-planters-arrive-in-bangkok-to-demand-governments-help


-- Thai PBS 2015-10-27

[Strangebrew]

Every year same old chit rubber plantion owners demand the government to raise price of there product. Ever think of supply and demand? Just maybe adding a different crop or something to offset lose might be in order?

[Seastallion]

"...warned Monday that they might stage a bigger protest or might resort to road blockade in the southern region as they did before if the plea went unheeded."

Not a good way to make a plea, with a threat, especially to a military man.

The government can't control market forces to the extent that these guys want, and should not be using tax-dollars to shore up a small group who jumped unthinkingly on the rubber train with no consideration of how competition and over-production will bring prices down.

You see it everywhere; Someone starts a business that looks successful, and then everyone does the same thing, often in the same area, and ultimately they all slowly fade into bankruptcy.

Near me, someone opened a childrens and baby products shop. Within 3 months of opening, another one sprang up about 50 metres down the road, and now another one just around the corner....There's only so many babies that use so many nappies and drink so much formula, all 3 shops will struggle because of competition.

So, for the rubber farmers, it's sad but their own fault for not considering the future, nor having a safety diversification crop on the fringes of the plantation.

Hopefully the government has learnt a huge lesson from a certain rice scheme.

[selftaopath]

"...warned Monday that they might stage a bigger protest or might resort to road blockade in the southern region as they did before if the plea went unheeded."

Not a good way to make a plea, with a threat, especially to a military man.

The government can't control market forces to the extent that these guys want, and should not be using tax-dollars to shore up a small group who jumped unthinkingly on the rubber train with no consideration of how competition and over-production will bring prices down.

You see it everywhere; Someone starts a business that looks successful, and then everyone does the same thing, often in the same area, and ultimately they all slowly fade into bankruptcy.

Near me, someone opened a childrens and baby products shop. Within 3 months of opening, another one sprang up about 50 metres down the road, and now another one just around the corner....There's only so many babies that use so many nappies and drink so much formula, all 3 shops will struggle because of competition.

So, for the rubber farmers, it's sad but their own fault for not considering the future, nor having a safety diversification crop on the fringes of the plantation.

Hopefully the government has learnt a huge lesson from a certain rice scheme.

Very astute observation. I agree whole heatedly and also observed these actions - which confuse me.

[selftaopath]

OH! I know. If you protesters block roads then you go to jail. Peaceful protests are one thing, but breaking the (unenforced) laws are another.

[Bluespunk]

They want the govt to pay double the crops value?

Idiots.

What sort of fool would do that?

[ClutchClark]

I don't know of even one countr in the World where agriculture is not federally subsidized.

Its for the bebefit of the Country when it is practiced properly... The rice scheme being an example of a poorly structured approach.

[ClutchClark]

Every year same old chit rubber plantion owners demand the government to raise price of there product. Ever think of supply and demand? Just maybe adding a different crop or something to offset lose might be in order?

I had hoped in the year of my absence you might have begun studying a topic prior to voicing your opinion...but one can also hope for next year.

Do you have any concept of the life cycle of a rubber tree ?

[Assurancetourix]

Every year same old chit rubber plantion owners demand the government to raise price of there product. Ever think of supply and demand? Just maybe adding a different crop or something to offset lose might be in order?

I had hoped in the year of my absence you might have begun studying a topic prior to voicing your opinion...but one can also hope for next year.

Do you have any concept of the life cycle of a rubber tree ?

I'm not Strangebrew , but I have;

Between 30 and 35 years ;

Farmers are all the same all over this world;

They don't have money for eating but curiously they have money for buying diesel/benzine for their Mercedes and big Toyota/Lexus for coming to Bangkok .

[optad]

I don't know of even one countr in the World where agriculture is not federally subsidized.

Its for the bebefit of the Country when it is practiced properly... The rice scheme being an example of a poorly structured approach.

Spot on. From production to having to slaughter animals because of the conditions there is some relief federally in Aust. It is a shame there was so much political baggage on the rice debacle.

A better way to view the rubbber thing though, is an economy trying to transition. Or actually not making the changes and hangin on, Just consider the very latex product and the farming techniques it uses they are trying to protect. These farmers do not need price relief they need whole-scale industry solutions on the future on their products with a focus to diversify. It is almost a feudal remnant and the synthetics will continue to kill em..

[Vandadavid]

Honestly they would have better luck with the mafia

[Vandadavid]

Falangs that know little

Government cut the price but are still making big money

Prices did not fall the regime arrived

[SoilSpoil]

Every year same old chit rubber plantion owners demand the government to raise price of there product. Ever think of supply and demand? Just maybe adding a different crop or something to offset lose might be in order?

All crops are equal but some crops are more equal than others. The Southern farmers saw their Northern counterparts getting 'rich' in Yingluck's 1 trillion baht rice scam. I can imagine that they feel its their turn to rob the middle class or their tax monies.

[Toknarok]

The South rubber producers are lucky to be getting 30baht a kilo. In my area when I checked last week it was 19baht.

With the price of oil being so low the demand for latex will fall as synthetic rubber (made from petroleum products) will be cheaper to produce.

Many rubbers producers are struggling, some this year haven't even bothered to tap their trees. We have come to the end of the rainy season and in a few weeks during the dry months (especially when it gets hot and the trees loose their leaves) then tapping ceases altogether as doing so seriously damages the tree.

Nearly all Governments intervene in agricultural production to some extent, not always with success. The rice scheme is a prime example. How many Brits remember the wine lakes and butter mountains produced under the EU.

Farmers all over the World feel hard done by. Only last month the French farmers were (once again) blocking French roads as a protest over British agricultural imports.

[ClutchClark]

The South rubber producers are lucky to be getting 30baht a kilo. In my area when I checked last week it was 19baht.

With the price of oil being so low the demand for latex will fall as synthetic rubber (made from petroleum products) will be cheaper to produce.

Many rubbers producers are struggling, some this year haven't even bothered to tap their trees. We have come to the end of the rainy season and in a few weeks during the dry months (especially when it gets hot and the trees loose their leaves) then tapping ceases altogether as doing so seriously damages the tree.

Nearly all Governments intervene in agricultural production to some extent, not always with success. The rice scheme is a prime example. How many Brits remember the wine lakes and butter mountains produced under the EU.

Farmers all over the World feel hard done by. Only last month the French farmers were (once again) blocking French roads as a protest over British agricultural imports.

A voice of reason has finally arrived.

[Seastallion]

They want the govt to pay double the crops value?

Idiots.

What sort of fool would do that?

Yingluck?

[Nick167]

Were not these Suthep's illegitimate children who laid siege to Bangkok with regards to the corrupted Pheu Thai and their schemes to help the rice farmers. So why should any help be given to them? And furthermore, why isn't the NCPO arresting them for mobs in Bangkok again.

[Assurancetourix]

The South rubber producers are lucky to be getting 30baht a kilo. In my area when I checked last week it was 19baht.

With the price of oil being so low the demand for latex will fall as synthetic rubber (made from petroleum products) will be cheaper to produce.

Many rubbers producers are struggling, some this year haven't even bothered to tap their trees. We have come to the end of the rainy season and in a few weeks during the dry months (especially when it gets hot and the trees loose their leaves) then tapping ceases altogether as doing so seriously damages the tree.

Nearly all Governments intervene in agricultural production to some extent, not always with success. The rice scheme is a prime example. How many Brits remember the wine lakes and butter mountains produced under the EU.

Farmers all over the World feel hard done by. Only last month the French farmers were (once again) blocking French roads as a protest over British agricultural imports.

Yesterday, was cycling in my province; Sakon Nakhon ( E-San ) ;

the price is 19 baht/kg for the white rubber bowls ;

I have a son in law ( married to a daughter) who has a big rubber tree plantation in Mukdahan province;

He stopped to cut his trees and went to Petchabun province to work in a big chicken farm .

The farmers who are going to Bangkok aren't little farmers for whom life is more and more difficult ;

it was the same in France a few weeks ago with pork farms especially in Brittain ;

I know very well the situation, I am from this province;

When they asked the authorities to built their pork farms, they received ( an example) an authorisation for a 2,000 square meter one;

but they built a 20,000 square meter one ;

If they did what the authorities asked them they will have , I don't know exactly, but maybe 1,000 animals;

but they have a huge illegally built farm and have also maybe 10,000 animals .

Many farmers in Brittany did like that;

and now they are so amazed the price of the pork is collapsing ...

About the rice in Thailand, it's another problem, a similar problem with the herds of cows in Corsica, France, again ;

Hope u can understand my french/english words

[ClutchClark]

Were not these Suthep's illegitimate children who laid siege to Bangkok with regards to the corrupted Pheu Thai and their schemes to help the rice farmers. So why should any help be given to them? And furthermore, why isn't the NCPO arresting them for mobs in Bangkok again.

I get such a chuckle how a bunch of farang toursits think they have any right at all to tell Thais how to govern their own country.

Talk about a misdirected sense of self-importance.

The only thing funnier is that any of you actually think the gov't cares one iota what you think.

[ExpatOilWorker]

The rubber business will bounce back soon.

[Assurancetourix]

The only thing funnier is that any of you actually think the gov't cares one iota what you think.

do not take your desires for reality ; nobody in that illegitime government have a look at what is written here ;

for a simple reason, they cannot understand what we write here .

We are farang and farang are nothing in Thailand ;

it's not me who say like that, it's you thai people who are the center of the world ;

like empire of Rome 2,000 years ago and every farang know what happened to that empire .

[ClutchClark]

I would like to encourage everyone at TV to support the small rubber tree farmers of Thailand by only buying products made of natural latex:

http://www.sirrichards.com/about/condoms-101/latex-condoms

Good for you. Good for her. Good for Thailand.

Edited October 27, 2015 by ClutchClark

[toybits]

OH! I know. If you protesters block roads then you go to jail. Peaceful protests are one thing, but breaking the (unenforced) laws are another.

Yeah! Right! Just look at what happened to that guy from Surat Thani!

[mike324]

Were not these Suthep's illegitimate children who laid siege to Bangkok with regards to the corrupted Pheu Thai and their schemes to help the rice farmers. So why should any help be given to them? And furthermore, why isn't the NCPO arresting them for mobs in Bangkok again.

I get such a chuckle how a bunch of farang toursits think they have any right at all to tell Thais how to govern their own country.

Talk about a misdirected sense of self-importance.

The only thing funnier is that any of you actually think the gov't cares one iota what you think.

We're all here killing time talking trash, nobody here expects the government to come here and get advice from a bunch of old farts who think they know it all.

[wombat]

Every year same old chit rubber plantion owners demand the government to raise price of there product. Ever think of supply and demand? Just maybe adding a different crop or something to offset lose might be in order?

i remember a few years ago when they where getting bumper prices,buying new trucks, land and crowing loudly about how good they had it.

[Assurancetourix]

The rubber business will bounce back soon.

[SoilSpoil]

Were not these Suthep's illegitimate children who laid siege to Bangkok with regards to the corrupted Pheu Thai and their schemes to help the rice farmers. So why should any help be given to them? And furthermore, why isn't the NCPO arresting them for mobs in Bangkok again.

I get such a chuckle how a bunch of farang toursits think they have any right at all to tell Thais how to govern their own country.

Talk about a misdirected sense of self-importance.

The only thing funnier is that any of you actually think the gov't cares one iota what you think.

Isn't a forum a place where people can discuss their points of view?

Do you even understand the paradoxical implication of your reply?

[ratcatcher]

Were not these Suthep's illegitimate children who laid siege to Bangkok with regards to the corrupted Pheu Thai and their schemes to help the rice farmers. So why should any help be given to them? And furthermore, why isn't the NCPO arresting them for mobs in Bangkok again.

Whoa there! " ........why isn't the NCPO arresting them for mobs in Bangkok again."?

Primarily because there aren't any seething mobs of bouncing, angry rubber farmers in Bangkok..........yet.

What we do have is an advance group of representatives trying to plead with the government to protect their industry.

[dageurreotype]

"...warned Monday that they might stage a bigger protest or might resort to road blockade in the southern region as they did before if the plea went unheeded."

Not a good way to make a plea, with a threat, especially to a military man.

The government can't control market forces to the extent that these guys want, and should not be using tax-dollars to shore up a small group who jumped unthinkingly on the rubber train with no consideration of how competition and over-production will bring prices down.

You see it everywhere; Someone starts a business that looks successful, and then everyone does the same thing, often in the same area, and ultimately they all slowly fade into bankruptcy.

Near me, someone opened a childrens and baby products shop. Within 3 months of opening, another one sprang up about 50 metres down the road, and now another one just around the corner....There's only so many babies that use so many nappies and drink so much formula, all 3 shops will struggle because of competition.

So, for the rubber farmers, it's sad but their own fault for not considering the future, nor having a safety diversification crop on the fringes of the plantation.

Hopefully the government has learnt a huge lesson from a certain rice scheme.

There are were a million massage/beauTEE shops along my main soi. As soon as one opened, up would pop another. A local cop who's family own a sole grocer's shop said 'They don't have any education, they know no better'. So best to bear that in mind when accusing them of ignorance, albeit rightfully and quite literally.

[BoristheBlade]

Payback wanter for helping Suthep....Where is the mad monk?