Thai minister promises more overseas buyers for rubber growers

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said on Tuesday that he will find more overseas buyers for Thai latex products and implement the income guarantee for Thai rubber farmers.

Visiting a rubber pillow factory operated by a local rubber farmer cooperative in northeastern Bueng Kan province, Jurin assured some 300 rubber farmers that he has kept his election campaign promise and he will do his utmost to introduce income guarantee for rubber farmers who have suffered price slump for years.

The government has already allocated budget to ensure stable income for rubber farmers, Jurin told the local rubber farmers.

Thailand and India recently signed an agreement to sell a combined 100,000 tons of rubber worth 9 billion baht (297.7 million U.S. dollars) to Indian importers, said Jurin.

Last September, Agriculture Minister Chalermchai Sri-on had proposed a guaranteed price for rubber to assist 1.4 million rubber farmers who have suffered losses for the past five years.

The Thai government had since approved the budget and is now awaiting disbursement to rubber farmers. Enditem