Higher MSP may see Kerala growers produce more natural rubber from April
February 22, 2021
Currently, as production costs exceed returns, growers are tapping their trees only once a week
Natural rubber growers in Kerala are expecting to tap more rubber from their trees beginning April 1 when a State government order for ₹170 a kg minimum support price (MSP) comes into effect.
Kerala accounts for 90 per cent of the total rubber production in the country.
Currently, a majority of farmers are keeping off from tapping due to prices hovering around ₹150 a kg, while the cost of production is about ₹175. As production costs exceed returns, growers are tapping their trees only once a week, according to grower community sources.