Yokohama ups support for rubber farmers in Thailand

Tokyo – Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd has announced the recent staging of a seminar to help Thai natural rubber farmers improve quality and productivity, the Japanese group announced 25 Dec. 

The event, in collaboration with Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT), attracted the participation of 50 farmers from the Surat Thani area.

Last January, Yokohama signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with RAOT to cooperate in efforts to provide economic support and improve traceability across the natural rubber supply chain. 

Based on the tire and rubber products maker’s ‘procurement policy for sustainable natural rubber’, the seminar is the latest action to support natural rubber farmers under the MOU. 

The MOU also encompasses a programme of onsite surveys to analyse issues faced by natural rubber farmers in Surat Thani area – home to Yokohama’s Thai natural rubber processing company YT Rubber Co. Ltd. 

Yokohama has also been conducting joint research with Thai universities aimed at improving the quality and productivity of natural rubber, while also promoting the widespread use of agroforestry to enable farmers to secure more stable income.