KPKK, Risda urged to find solution to increase rubber price

TONGOD - The Plantation and Commodities Ministry and Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) are urged to find a solution to increase the price of rubber to help small farmers in the country.

Kuamut assemblyman Datuk Masiung Banah said rubber prices had never been reviewed causing it to continue dropping until now.

“KPPK and Risda should find a way so that the rubber market would be able to reach RM3.50 to RM4 per kilogramme (kg) to aid rubber farmers in the country.

“The unity government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to understand the rubber farmers regarding the drop in the commodity price,” he told reporters after visiting the Pekan Baharu Tongod commercial project site on Tuesday.

He said rubber farmers in the country continued to be burdened by poverty if there were no efforts towards stabilising the commodity prices in the market.

He said small rubber farmers were not only burdened by the increase of the price of pesticides reaching 100 per cent, but also the increase of the price of acetic acid and fertiliser by almost 90 per cent.

“The fall in the value of commodity was the largest drop in history since over 20 years ago.

“The rubber market now remains with a floor price of RM2.50 per kg and it is worth the same as a one kg of salt and it was never reviewed for eight years,” he said.

The Housing Development Board (LPPB) chairman sympathised with the fate of small rubber farmers especially those in Sabah who were suffering from the rising cost of living.

“Rubber tappers are also effected by the change in the weather following the drop in rubber prices that were obvious,” he said.