KUBANG PASU: Rubber tappers in Kedah are feeling the pinch as scrap rubber prices have dropped and the unpredictable weather piles further pressure on their tapping activities.
Changlun rubber tapper, Rodhi Md Rejab, 45 said decreased yields due to bad weather since April compounded with low prices for scrap rubber since July has affected his livelihood significantly.
"This year has been the worst year for rubber plantations. Since April, the weather has been very unpredictable. It rains frequently, and in the entire month of September, I could only tap for eight days, and production has dropped significantly.
"Harvesting scrap rubber needs to be done at least on two consecutive days, but with the bad weather, I have had three to four-day gaps between my harvesting days and this has affected my harvest.
"Since July, the price of scrap rubber per kilogram has dropped below RM3 on average. So with decreased yields and lower prices, it has been very difficult for me," he said today.
To make things worse, Rodhi said he was ineligible for the Monsoon Season Aid (BMT) as it was only made available for small-scale rubber tappers and plantation owners.
"Most rubber tappers in the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlements are not eligible for the aid. This as rubber tappers in the settlements are working in an area of 10 acres and the aid provides assistance to smaller scale rubber plantations.
"Since we are not eligible to receive the financial aid to help us during the monsoon season, many rubber tappers in Felda settlements are feeling the pressure. We have been cut off from our income supply.
"I have been relying on food banks from my local mosque to support my family, but receiving help from the foodbank is not a sustainable way of supporting my family and I can't rely on that," he said.
He said that a fixed floor price for scrap rubber of at least RM3 per kilogram, as suggested by Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, would provide relief to him and all rubber smallholders.
"With the current prices, I can only make around RM800 per month. With that amount of money, what can you feed your family? Anything below RM3 for the price of scrap rubber is unacceptable.
"I hope the government can increase the floor price of scrap rubber. With a fixed floor price of RM3.5 to RM4 per kilogram, I can make about RM2,000 to RM3,000 per month, which is an enormous relief.
"With this floor price, even when I can only rubber tap for two to three days a week, I can harvest about 100 to 150 kilograms of scrap rubber. I can support my family comfortably," he added.
Mahzan Abd Majid, 53, who owns a five-acre rubber plantation in Kuala Nerang, said he has already laid out plans to replace his 5 acres of rubber plantation in Kuala Nerang with palm oil instead due to the unreasonably low prices for scrap rubber.
"I don't think it's reasonable to keep relying on rubber as a source of income. Even the rubber tappers that I hire have to look for other jobs to support themselves.
"The current price of rubber is just not worth it anymore. During the entire month of September, I can only produce a net income of about RM300 only.
"I already have five acres of oil palm plantation, and I am planning to convert my remaining five acres of rubber trees to oil palm oil instead. It's much more lucrative. The idea is also widely popular amongst rubber plantation smallholders and rubber tappers as well," he added.
Mahzan added that with the onset of the rainy season, the future for rubber tappers would be bleak.
Kedah Meteorological Department director Muhammad Khalil Ab Aziz said with the monsoon transition phase expected to start tomorrow, the public was advised to stay indoors as thunderstorms and heavy rain will be frequent during the period.
"It is expected that the monsoon transition phase will start on the third of the month and will continue until November 2022. During the transitional monsoon season, there will be cloud formations and from evening to night there will be heavy rain and thunderstorms throughout this period.
"For Kedah, the monsoon transitional phase is a wet season, which means a lot of rain and thunderstorms in the state in October and November. Rainfall for this year's monsoon transition phase is at an average level, and no unnaturally heavy rain was expected.
"However, the public is advised to take shelter at home or in a safe area because heavy storms will occur during the transitional monsoon season."