FARMERS cultivating rubber on a manageable scale in villages in Thuwunnawati Town, Thaton Township, Mon State, are feeling the pinch from the fall in rubber yield this summer, in spite of a small increase in prices, said traders.
“Ribbed Smoked Sheet (RSS) rubber was fetching less than K800 per pound when the rubber tapping season started. The prevailing price of RSS rubber is K840 per pound.
The rubber season is going to end, but the prices have not gone up significantly. Rubber farmers are not doing well financially,” said a rubber businessman from Winpa Village. “Demand is on the decline for now.
During the early latex harvest season, over 10,000 pounds of rubber are traded daily. Now, the demand has decreased to about 7,000 pounds per day. The highest price for rubber this year was K850 per pound,” said a rubber trader from Theinseik Ward.
“There are only ten rubber traders in Thuwunnawati Town. Rubber is delivered to markets in Yangon, Mandalay, Mawlamyine, and other towns by linking with companies,” said rubber traders.— Khun (Winpa) (Translated by Ei Myat Mon)
