On the other day, a prominent rubber grower came to see me was seen
checking SMS in his costly mobile handset. Of course, this is not worth
mentioning someone checking SMS!
But, it was
surprising to see him performing some mathematical functions like
multiplication, division and deduction in his handset.
On query, he responded that he was
checking the rate of natural rubber
latex in Kottayam market on that particular day and based on which
ascertaining the rate in local condition.
He further stated
that he is a subscriber of SMS service in the official website of Rubber Board of India.
It is stated that Rubber Board of
India provides daily SMS alert to its paid subscriber members on the rate of
natural rubber.
The board is said
to be assisting the subscribers by providing daily rate of rubber product like
dry rubber sheet or natural rubber latex in Kerala or Kottayam market in all
marketing days.
He clarified that accessing
of this service is very much necessary for getting the good market rate and,
every grower should have the knowledge of standard
market rate.
The fact of the matter is; daily market index
in Kerala is being followed as standard market rate so far as rubber growing
states in India
is concerned.
It was actually interesting to see
that here’s someone who is a keen observer on the movement of rubber rate in India and sale
according to standard market rate.
The idea is;
realizing the best market rate in accordance with the standard market rate in
Kerala or Kottayam market.
My further curiosity on the matter has
obligated him to give me some more hints on the whole matter.
I was actually interested to know the process
of determining and converting the rate of natural rubber in national standard
to the local condition.
That is to say that
determining the rate of natural rubber latex in Tripura in conformity with the
rate in Kerala on that particular day.
As a proof of this,
he has just shown me the SMS that he
received on that day.
What he shown me
was the rate of natural rubber latex on that day as Latex (60% DRC) = 161.00
per kilogram.
This is stated to
be the rate of 1(one) kilogram of natural rubber latex which has been
centrifuged and whose DRC is set to 60% on that particular day.
Latex (60% DRC) means, dry rubber
content of 1(one) kilogram latex is 60%.
That is, 1 Kilogram of latex is
equivalent to 600 grams of dry matter or dry rubber content.
Of course, in
normal course, DRC content of the
latex is said to be within 25% to 35% or to a maximum of 40%.
Now, say for
example if DRC of local latex is 30%
that means 1(one) Kilogram of local latex is containing 300 grams of Dry rubber.
Now, if standard
market rate for Latex-60 %( Latex containing 60% DRC) is 161.00 on that
particular day then the rate of local latex containing 30% DRC will be as
follows:-
Total latex requirement to get 60%
DRC, if DRC content of the Local Latex is 30%
=2Kgs local latex.
That means, 2Kgs of local latex
containing 30% DRC will be required to get 600 grams of dry rubber. Therefore,
rate of 1 Kg of local latex containing 30% DRC will be as follows:
Standard Rate of Latex-60%÷2
That is, 161.00÷2
=80.50
That means, rate of
1 Kg of local latex containing 30% DRC is 80.50.
This is of course the example of
latex rate, if grower prefers to sale latex instead of dry sheet then he is to
get this rate in local condition.
However, service also includes rate
of dry rubber sheets of different grades which I have not discussed in this
post.
It is really
interesting service to the point of rubber growers’, especially for small and
unorganized rubber growers.
This is because
growers are really in need of good market rate for marketing of their product
and maximum profit optimization.
This is mainly
because whatever the rate they get in local condition is quite low comparing to
the national standard.
What generally observed in local market is,
there’s huge variation of rate between local and standard rate either for dry
rubber sheet or latex. It’s in fact far
far below the standard market rate of Kerala.
Here one surprising
point is; why rubber growers are not keeping themselves informed about the
standard market rate of rubber?
That too at the time where mobile phone has
become normal gadget for all and accessing information is at ease.
It’s for the fact
that SMS service that is being made available by the Rubber Board of India is
still alien to most rubber growers.
I have spoken to quite many rubber growers on
the SMS service but most of them informed to be unknown of the service.
On the other hand,
the service, I would say the valuable service of Rubber Board of India could
have been in the public domain especially the rubber growers.
It should actually be on the finger tips of
all rubber growers looking to the use and knowledge of mobile phone by the
public.
Here of course, the
point I realized from the rubber grower is that good market rate can be
possible when grower keep himself or herself informed and aware of the
surroundings.
Here, the grower has learnt the simple tactics
of marketing which made him possible to get remunerative rate.
It is really, very
good price, rubber grower is getting with only little alteration in the present
way of marketing of his rubber product.
It may therefore be
said that certain concerted efforts as mentioned below may bring positive
changes in the mindset of the rubber growers’
of the state.
These efforts
if successfully realized then it will
not only benefit the growers’ community but also the state’s economy:-
1.
A strong and agile Rubber Producer Society
2.
Awareness campaign for disseminating the new service for the
benefit of rubber grower.
3.
Awareness for utilizing the information technology through
group training.
N:B: User is
requested to not to see this post as recommendation. For any suggestion or
recommendation, expert may be consulted.