Challenges and Opportunities of Cooperative Marketing With Respect To Small Rubber Growers in Kerala

Abstract

India is the fourth largest producer of natural rubber with a share of eight per cent in the world after Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Kerala accounts for 78 percent of the area under rubber in the country. The rubber plantation sector in India is dominated by small holdings which account for 92% of the production and 89% of the area of rubber in the country. In spite of this major contribution the small rubber growers are vulnerable to exploitations by dominant groups like traders, manufacturers, politicians etc. Small rubber farmers in the country are considered one of the biggest and impoverished sectors. They are basically exploited due to lack of information and training to interpret movements of trade in the market, lack of capital and post-harvest facility logistics to increase their output and undertake value-adding activities to augment and improve their economic livelihood. Rubber Board took vigorous steps from early 1960 to encourage them to organize under dedicated rubber marketing cooperatives societies. These Cooperatives confront many distinct economic challenges that underline their need for coordinated planning and opportunities. The major challenge for cooperatives, is to simultaneously facilitate and augments economic performance of their members' businesses, while maintaining their own financial solvency