The Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) and tire maker Yokohama recently held a seminar to help rubber farmers in Thailand improve the quality and productivity of their natural rubber.
This is the second time both parties have held the event, with the first seminar taking place in 2020. Fifty farmers from the Surat Thani province took part; each was gifted 250kg of fertilizer developed using RAOT’s specialist knowledge.
Having signed a memorandum of understanding in January 2020, both companies aim to provide economic support and improve traceability and transparency within the natural-rubber supply chain.
The event was the latest action to take place under the MoU. Both parties have also undertaken on-site surveys to analyze the issues faced by the rubber farmers in the Surat Thani area. Yokohama and RAOT hope that farmers who received the fertilizer will participate in follow-up surveys to assess its effect on the productivity and physical properties of natural rubber.
In addition to the seminars, Yokohama has been carrying out joint research with local universities in Thailand to improve the quality and productivity of natural rubber. Furthermore, the company seeks to promote the use of agroforestry to enable a more stable income for natural-rubber farmers.
