Maryland County – As the sale of iron ore and rubber have dropped on the world market, local rubber farmers in Maryland County are crying due to the lack of customers.
The farmers are complaining that since they tapped, there have been no buyers and the situation is worrisome.
Numbering over 300, the farmers said they want the government to intervene to encourage buyers to purchase from them.
The spokesman of the Rubber farmers in Maryland County, Rev. Johnny Numbo, told FrontPageAfrica over the weekend that the lack of buyers is hampering their livelihood in the county.
“We are calling on the President to please talk to people to buy our rubber. It is this rubber we are depending on to feed our families and send our children to school,” Rev. Numbo noted.
Rev. Numbo said their concern is, rubber is the only crop and means they have to live as farmers in Maryland.
He said prior to the moratorium placed by the government in 2010, they (Rubbers Farmers) were selling rubber and everything was fine with them.
He noted that after the moratorium in 2010, they were selling rubber up to 2013 when the buying of rubber ceased, saying there has been no buyer.
He said the situation currently poses a serious economic stagnation, considering the fact that this is the only means by which they earn their livelihood.
The farmers’ spokesman placed the quantity of rubber tapped at over 20 tons, adding that it might spoil if it is not bought.
Rev. Numbo said they want the government to reopen the buying stations in Maryland County.
“We are dying here slowly because there is no food for us farmers when our goods are not bought. We want the President and the government to re-open the rubber purchasing center here so we too can sell our rubber in Maryland County,” he noted.
He said Firestone Plantation, Salala, and the Cavalla Rubber Corporation frequent buyers of their rubber, but stopped in 2013 for unknown reasons.
The companies mentioned declined to comment when contacted by FPA. But sources say the companies have reduced their purchase orders since the price of commodities dropped on the world market.
By George K. Momo (0880303757/[email protected])