AGARTALA, January 7 (TIWN): Sudden fall of rate of latex rubber or rubber sheets are affecting the individual rubber growers in particular and collapsing the rural economy of Tripura in general, the Tripura Rajya Rubber Utpadak Samilty (TRRUS) met the Chairman and the member of the Parliament (Industry & Commerce Standing Committee) Chandan Mitra and placed 8 points charter of demands.The 8 points charter of demands comprises of a fix to a common rate of latex/rubber sheets as Rs. 200 per Kg for the benefit of farmers, also includes the demand to cancel the Anti-Rubber Growers Agreements; Indo-Asia Mukta Banijya Chukti, to stop the production of synthetic rubber gradually, along with others.

According to TRRUS recently the rate of latex has fallen abnormally from Rs. 240 to Rs. 90 per Kg, with which the poor farmers cannot meet up the plantation nut rating, production and marketing cost of rubber.

It is mentionable here that in 2012-13 Indian rubber price had been curtailed by 18.87% compared to the 2011-12 figures. There were 1.65% decreases even next year compared to 2012-13. Figures up to July 2014 shows another reduction by 15% compared to the previous year.

Although agriculture is the mainstay of the people, this former princely state is known for its exotic handicrafts and is India’s second largest rubber producer after Kerala. It has India's largest rubber thread production factory. The country's second industrial Rubber Park is being developed in Bodhjungnagar in west Tripura to give a boost to the elastic polymer industry. A joint venture between the Tripura Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC) and the Rubber Board, it is the second of its kind in India after the Rubber Park in Irapuram in Kerala.

Today, Parliamentary delegation visited Akhaura Integrated Check Post and expressed satisfaction over International trade facilities.