Centre's priority will be to give relief to rubber growers

The Centre will give top priority to providing relief to rubber growers who are facing a crisis due to fall in prices, Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said.
"The priority will be first to address the issue of giving some relief to growers," the Minister told reporters here, adding that the concerns related to rubber imports would also be addressed, she said.
"Many small growers this year have stopped tapping rubber as prices have come down. Many are unable to pay workers and are left with nothing after paying wages and this would be addressed first," she said.
The Minister, who had met representatives of Rubber growers, traders and tyre manufacturers here yesterday, said the inputs she had received were more relating to problems faced by the rubber industry.

"But of course that again will have a bearing on the policy itself. Let me go back, I will not commit on time. At the earliest possible," she told reporters here when asked when the National policy on Natural Rubber could be expected.
Asked whether the tyre industry was importing rubber more than the required quantity, the minister said figures show import was much more than demand supply gap. However, there is no proof that the imports are by the tyre industry, she said.

When discussed about LNG terminal in Kochi being unable to operate at its optimum capacity, she said both Central and state governments have to work together to deal with the issue as so much of investment has gone into the project.

On the revival package for ailing CPSU Fertilisers and Chemical Travancore Ltd (FACT), the Minister said she would talk to Chemicals and Fertilizer Minister on the issue.
The minister, during her two-day visit to Kerala, reviewed the activities of spices board, heard the worries of cardamom growers, the challenges of cardamom exporters as there is threat from Guatemala.
The Minister had also met representatives of Indian Chamber of Commerce where worries of rubber, pepper and tea were raised and reviewed the activities of Cochin Special Economic Zone.