VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia invited Thailand and Malaysia as member of International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC) to protect rubber farmers. Indonesia also invited the two countries to arrange joint effort in overcoming other natural rubber issues for the sake of the farmers. Press release of Indonesian Trade Ministry mentioned that it was stated by Indonesia which led the ITRC meeting in Jakarta on December 2-5.

APEC and International Organization Negotiation Director of Trade Ministry Antonius Yudi Triantoro said, the meeting discussed global natural rubber market condition and arranged concrete steps in overcoming low natural rubber price, which directly affects rubber farmers’ welfare. All related sides need to protect rubber farmers with various planned efforts.

In the meeting, ITRC member countries agreed to keep being comitted to maintaining natural rubber supply through ITRC scheme and to expand cooperation framework with other producing countries. ITRC has the scheme to maintain natural rubber supply through Supply Management Scheme (SMS) and Agreed Export Tonnage Scheme (AETS).

To increase rubber consuption in third countries, ITRC created Demand Promotion Scheme (DPS) as platform for member countries to convey strategies to increase domestic natural rubber use such as for asphalt mix and various other natural rubber-based innovations.

ITRC Scheme aims to maintain natural rubber sustainability by stabilizing global natural rubber price. Sustainability of natural rubber must be fought for. Price improvement is also being strived for, so that farmers keep cultivate their rubber plants.

According to Antonius, low rubber price also makes farmers downgrade plant maintenance quality by reducing the use of fertilizer and pesticide. Thus, rubber leaves in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are attacked by pestalotipsis. That allows this disease grow and reduce natural rubber production.

Besides that, by expanding cooperation framework with other producing countries, it was expected that the measure taken will have greater significant influence towards global natural rubber market. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand need to invite other producing countries, especially in ASEAN and other rubber organizations such as the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) to synergize in overcoming various problems.