The Government has taken various measures to help the rubber farmers as they were struggling due to price fall of natural rubbers. This information was given by Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, C R Chaudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Measures Taken By Government:
1. The Government has increased duty on import of dry rubber from 20% or Rs. 30 per kg which is lower to 25% or Rs. 30 per kg from 30.4.2015, to regulate the import of natural rubber and in order to create demand for locally produced rubber. Domestic rubber prices are highly sensitive to import of natural rubber.
2. Under advance licensing or authorization scheme, The Government has reduced the period of utilization of imported dry rubber from 18 months to 6 months.
3. Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has imposed port restriction on the import of natural rubber by restricting the port entry to Chennai and Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru Port) since 20th January, 2016.
4. In the major rubber growing state of Kerala, Rubber production incentive scheme is under implementation for providing financial support to rubber growers. Under which the difference between the scheme reference price of Rs 150 per kg and the daily market price is credited to the bank account of the farmer directly on the basis of purchase bills.
6. The Government has no proposal for opening of industrial parks for rubber based units.
