To safeguard the interest of rubber sector, the Union Commerce Ministry will consider stakeholders view before formulating any programmes and policies.

This was stated by Nirmala Sitharaman, the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, while speaking at the rubber stakeholders meeting here on Friday.

She said that the Ministry had been receiving many representations from different sectors, but the views expressed by them were often divergent and sometimes contradictory. Hence it is felt that any decision taken to diffuse the present crisis should reflect the ground reality, she said.

The Ministry would also like to get suggestions and solutions to address the situation. But any action taken should ultimately ensure adequate supply of quality raw material to meet the growing demands of the industry, she said.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy highlighted the issue of large scale imports in the recent period which was more than what was needed to meet the domestic deficit. He suggested restricting quantity of imports especially during lean production periods to meet the deficit as well as to increase the import duty to 25 per cent.

Raising the issue of high wages in the sector, the Chief Minister pointed out that rubber farmers are finding it difficult to continue harvesting, as the wages had gone up when rubber prices were ruling high.

Besides stakeholders in the sector, state ministers and Parliament members presented their views and suggestions on the present situation in the rubber sector at the meeting.

comment COMMENT NOW