Kerala farmers elated over rubber price hike

Kottayam (Kerala), July 12 (ANI): Rubber farmers in Kerala's Kottayam District are in high spirits after the price of rubber shot up to Rs.182 per kilogram.

The price hike is due to the rising demand of rubber in the automobile sector, and in international markets like China.

"I am very happy with the rise in price. I have been doing rubber farming for past 12 years, and this time price is really high as the demand for rubber sheets is very high. Last year, I got Rs.180 per kilogram of rubber sheet but this time it is Rs.182 per kilogram, which is very high," said Sudha, a rubber farmer.

The price of rubber is further expected to rise up to Rs.200 per kilogram.

Kottayam, the fourth largest rubber grower in India, produces almost nine percent of the world's rubber.

In 2000, Kerala state produced 580,000 tonnes of rubber whereas in 2005, it produced 691,000 tonnes, and in 2009 the production increased to 783,000 tonnes.

Kottayam grows rubber in over 109,582 hectares and produces 120,946 tonnes of rubber per annum. (ANI)