KOTTAYAM: Farmers’ organisations and various political parties lambasted the Rubber Board’s move to close down a large number of its regional offices in the state.
Former Finance Minister and Kerala Congress (M) chairman K M Mani asked the state government to send an all-party delegation to New Delhi to hold discussions with the Central government regarding the National Rubber Policy and drop in the rubber price. Mani said the move would make the Rubber Board’s services inaccessible for farmers.
“Of the 44 regional offices of the Rubber Board in the country, 26 are in Kerala. The state has 12 lakh rubber farmers and 90 pc of the total rubber production is from the state.vFarmers largely depend on these regional offices during replantation, cultivation assistance and for availing rubber subsidy. The Board’s decision will affect the farmers,” he said.
The KC(M) Kottayam district committee will organise a farmers’ march to the Rubber Board headquarters on Friday. KC(M) vice-chairman Jose K Mani would inaugurate the march, which would commence from Police Parade ground.
Mavelikkara MP Kodikkunnil Suresh demanded immediate withdrawal of the move. He alleged the decision was the part of a broader conspiracy to wind up the Rubber Board.