Representatives of southern rubber growers have threatened to increase pressure on the government unless it also helps 2 million landless growers and rubber tappers.
Representatives of an association of rubber farmers in 16 southern provinces showed up at the complaints centre at Government House on Wednesday to ask Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to expand assistance to offset low rubber prices to include landless growers and rubber tappers.
Leading the group, Soonthorn Rakrong said about 500,000 families of landless rubber growers and tappers, about 2 million people, were suffering because of the low rubber prices. They should also receive assistance from the government because they also paid the levy on rubber exports.
"If the government pays no attention, then we must resort to other mechanisms such as the law, a complaint to the Administrative Court or even activities to exert pressure," he said.
In their letter to the prime minister, the group asked the government to also give compensation of 1,500 baht per rai of rubber, up to 15 rai, to poor growers and tappers who pay to rent land.
The group demanded these 2 million people also have the right to sell raw rubber sheets directly to the government at 45 baht per kilogramme.
The government earlier promised financial assistance and the direct purchase of 100,000 tonnes of rubber to cushion the impact of low rubber prices.
The letter asked the government to keep the rubber it purchases from being sold right away, to prevent a further drop in prices. The government is also asked to investigate a report that 500,000 tonnes of rubber were smuggled out of the country each year through Sadao and Padang Besar border checkpoints in Songkhla province.
