Rubber producers’ societies in Karnataka have stressed the need for forming a state-level organisation to ensure better control over the market.

Participating in a meeting of the consortium of such societies in Mangalore on Thursday, Gopalakrishna Bhat, a representative of a rubber producers’ society from Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, said that rubber is grown in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shimoga, Chikmagalur and Kodagu districts of Karnataka, and 75 rubber producers’ societies are working in the state.

Around 50,000 hectares of land is under rubber cultivation in Karnataka, producing around 40,000 tonnes of rubber a year.

Explaining the need for the establishment of a state-level organisation of rubber growers, he said planting and producing rubber are under the control of growers. However, they do not have any control when it comes to pricing and marketing.

These societies can establish a business platform, either in the form of a company or as a cooperative. The formation of such an organisation will ensure fair and remunerative price and address various issues faced by rubber growers in the state, he said.

The formation of a state-level organisation will provide control over the stock. This, in turn, will help seek better price for rubber, he said.

NS Bhandary, president of the Rubber Planters’ Association, Mangalore, said that the prices of rubber, which was ₹21 a kg during 1991, went up to ₹255 a kg four years ago. The prices have again come down now.

Cutting the rubber trees is not a solution when the prices come down. Rubber growers will have to brace themselves to face the variations in the rubber market, he said.

Sheela Thomas, Chairperson of Rubber Board, presided over the meeting.

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