Kottayam: Rubber prices have once again moved past the ₹200 mark after a long gap, but the surge has failed to bring relief to farmers, who say the ongoing shortage of rubber sheets has left them unable to benefit from the rise. Farmer organizations point out that despite the apparent price recovery, growers continue to face losses due to low production and unfavourable market conditions.
Both domestic and international markets have reported prices for sheet rubber crossing ₹200 per kilogram. In the Kottayam and Kochi markets, the price of RSS Grade-4 rubber was recorded at ₹200.50 per kg on Tuesday. While the official spot price of sheet rubber stands at ₹192.50, actual trading is reportedly happening at rates as high as ₹197. In the international market, prices have also strengthened, with rubber in the Bangkok exchange touching ₹201.84 per kg. In contrast, latex prices, which had earlier climbed to ₹197, have dropped sharply to around ₹190, further affecting farmers’ earnings.
The sharp shortage of rubber sheets in the market is being attributed to the seasonal halt in tapping. Following natural leaf fall, rubber trees are now sprouting new leaves, prompting many farmers to suspend tapping operations. As a result, production has declined, tightening supply. However, farmer groups argue that the price increase has come at a time when most growers have little or no rubber to sell.
Farmers’ Congress leader A.B. Ipe said that price spikes rarely translate into real gains for cultivators. According to him, even when rubber prices cross ₹200, farmers are unable to capitalize because most of them sell rubber as latex or cup lump instead of processing it into sheets, which fetch higher and more stable prices.
A similar situation was witnessed last year in March and August, when rubber prices climbed to around ₹213 per kg. Despite the increase, farmers saw limited benefit due to low production. In August, heavy rainfall further reduced tapping, compounding losses. The current season presents a comparable scenario, with plantations largely inactive as trees recover after shedding leaves.
Experts note that the absence of sheet storage is a major reason farmers miss out during price rallies. When rubber is sold immediately as latex or scrap, growers are forced to accept prevailing prices, whereas sheet rubber allows for better timing and returns. Without adequate facilities or incentives to process and store rubber as sheets, farmers remain vulnerable to market fluctuations.
Farmer organizations also link the price rise to declining domestic production. In Kottayam district, it has become increasingly common for farmers to uproot aging rubber trees after the tapping cycle and shift to other crops. This trend continues despite substantial financial support for replantation through the Rubber Board’s subsidy programmes and the state government’s Kera scheme. Rising production costs and unpredictable prices have discouraged many from continuing rubber cultivation.
The Rubber Board, meanwhile, maintains that multiple schemes are being implemented to revive the sector. Officials stress that large-scale replantation is crucial for the future of rubber farming in Kerala. The Board has rolled out initiatives such as planting assistance, rain-guarding support and other incentives aimed at boosting productivity and sustaining cultivation.
However, farmers counter that official claims of rising cultivation and output are overstated. They warn that if the present conditions persist, rubber prices could climb beyond ₹220 per kg by March due to supply constraints. Yet, they caution that the industry will regain stability only if farmers are encouraged and enabled to process and market rubber in sheet form. Otherwise, they argue, the real gains from price increases will continue to flow mainly to tyre manufacturers and other large rubber-consuming industries, leaving cultivators trapped in crisis despite higher market rates.