KOTTAYAM: Kerala dominates 80% of India’s rubber production, totaling 7.71 lakh tonnes in 2010-11, primarily cultivated in hilly terrains. This sector sustains nearly 12 lakh families, making a substantial contribution to Kerala’s economy.
Despite its significance, the rubber industry faces a severe crisis due to plummeting prices since 2012, coupled with escalating production costs and diminishing yields from aging rubber holdings. This crisis has particularly impacted smallholders, pushing many to abandon rubber cultivation.
Previously valued at rupees 300 per kilogram, rubber prices have hit an unprecedented low of rupees 148 per kg. This sharp decline not only burdens large estates with high overheads and social costs but also jeopardises the livelihoods of those heavily reliant on rubber cultivation. The situation underscores the urgent need for intervention and support to revive this crucial sector in Kerala.
