TEMPO.CO, Mesuji, Lampung - Farmers in Mesuji Regency, Lampung, are now choosing not to tap their rubber after commodity prices dropped to Rp5,000/kg.
A number of rubber farmers who had gathered in the Wira Bangun Village, Simpang Pematang District bordering the South Sumatra Province, on Saturday said they are reluctant to tap rubber because besides the results are low, proceeds from the sale of rubber is also very small due to declining rubber prices.
“It is better that we do not tap rubber, we are tired, profits from selling rubber only little, the harvest is also lower” said Wanda, one of the rubber farmers.
In the last few months, they are facing difficulty period because the sap production plummeted more than when normal due to the current dry season.
Farmers are producing 50 kilograms per hectare every two weeks, compared to usually four to five hundred kilos a week, said Wanda.
Rubber latex price is still relatively low at only Rp5,000/kg for dry rubber, while wet rubber Rp4.000/kg.
ANTARA
