Dems decry low rubber, palm prices

Dems decry low rubber, palm prices

Democrat MPs have stepped up pressure on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to introduce urgent measures to help farmers who are facing falling rubber and palm oil prices.

The Democrats, led by Nakhon Si Thammarat MP Thaworn Senneam, yesterday submitted a petition to Ms Yingluck at Government House.

PM's Office deputy secretary-general Suporn Atthawong received the Democrats' petition.

Mr Thaworn said the Democrats have no interest in causing political trouble, but want the government to help rubber and palm growers who are battling falling crop prices.

In the petition, the Democrats demanded the government buy third-grade rubber smoked sheets for at least 120 baht per kilogramme.

They said fresh palm oil nuts should be purchased by the government for at least 5 baht/kg.

Democrat MPs from the South vowed to submit a follow-up letter to cabinet unless the government comes up with urgent measures to help farmers by Monday, Mr Thaworn said.

The Democrats called a meeting of its MPs on Tuesday after rubber and palm oil farmers complained about the sharp drop in prices.

The price of rubber sheet is down to 68-70 baht/kg, while the price of palm nuts has fallen to 2.40-3 baht/kg.

Many planters are paying more in production costs than their crops are now worth, he said. The Democrats say the government has not taken the problem seriously since it came to power and should do more to help.

Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Yutthapong Charassathien said the rubber price drop is not the government's fault. He said the government has allocated 42 billion baht to sustain the rubber price, and has spent 22 billion baht to buy 200,000 tonnes of rubber.

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