Volatility in Price of Rubber Crop in Kerala

Rubber is an important plantation crop cultivated in Kerala. The state holds a dominant position both in area and production. It is the main source of income for majority of farmers. Any volatility in the price of rubber put them in a miserable situation. Recent years witnessed unprecedented volatility in rubber price. Declining trend in the prices of rubber has pushed natural rubber production the lowest in the country. The study revealed that prices were so low so that the rubber cultivators cannot even pay workers wages and the recent unprecedented volatility in prices declined rubber production leads to the falling standard of living of the rubber farmers in Kerala.