Southeast Asian governments lend support to rubber farmers

Kuala Lumpur – A number of southeast Asian governments are launching support programmes to boost the livelihoods and income of natural rubber smallholders.

Malaysia, for one, is encouraging rubber farmers to convert from producing scrap and crepe rubber to latex, the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) reported.

This step, it said, could minimise import-dependency, estimated to be worth RM3 billion (€590 million) per year, ANRPC explained in its latest monthly report.

Together with industry stakeholders, the Malaysian government is evaluating the rubber growers' business model for this transition, noted the association's 21 July report

Rubber smallholders, meanwhile, have been urged to apply for the RM800 'monsoon season aid from the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA).

The RM256 million financial aid is expected to benefit a total of 318,750 rubber smallholders, according to ANRPC.

Furthermore, the Kuala Lumpur government activated the ‘rubber production incentive’ in June, the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) announced.

The incentive kicks in when the average monthly price of rubber is below the RM2.70 per kg level.

In Thailand, meanwhile, nine state-owned financial institutions have committed to granting loans worth THB2 billion (€52 million) to assist rubber farmers and rubber processing companies.

The objective, said ANRPC, is to enhance the well-being of rubber farmers and ensure that rubber product manufacturers comply with the principles of the “bio-circular-green economy”.

These loans, it said, will provide support to all stakeholders in the rubber industry, fostering improved business prospects and the exploration of new export markets.

On a different front, The Philippines' rubber research institute is developing strategies to control the spread of Pestalotiopsis leaf fall diseases, continued ANRPC.

The institute, it stated, is “forging collaborations” to tackle the disease while aiming to increase rubber output.

The centre is also strengthening growers' focus on sustainable practices and innovation to “propel the country's rubber industry moving forward.”