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ThaiRubberCrisis

02 SEPTEMBER 2014 - CHUM SAENG, RAYONG, THAILAND: LEK, a laborer on a rubber plantation in Rayong province of Thailand, "taps" a rubber tree to collect rubber. Trees are tapped during the night. Lek and his wife used to work together on the farm but she was laid off when prices plunged and now works in a food stall in town. Thailand is the leading rubber exporter in the world. In the last two years, the price paid to rubber farmers has plunged from approximately 190 Baht per kilo (about $6.10 US) to 52 Baht per kilo (about $1.60 US). It costs about 65 Baht per kilo to produce rubber ($2.05 US). A rubber farmer in southern Thailand committed suicide over the weekend, allegedly because the low prices meant he couldn't provide for his family. Other rubber farmers have taken jobs in the construction trade or in Bangkok to provide for their families during the slump. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ

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ThaiRubberCrisis002.jpg
Copyright
© 2014 Jack Kurtz
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5760x3840 / 15.7MB
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Thailand (All)
02 SEPTEMBER 2014 - CHUM SAENG, RAYONG, THAILAND: LEK, a laborer on a rubber plantation in Rayong province of Thailand, "taps" a rubber tree to collect rubber. Trees are tapped during the night. Lek and his wife used to work together on the farm but she was laid off when prices plunged and now works in a food stall in town. Thailand is the leading rubber exporter in the world. In the last two years, the price paid to rubber farmers has plunged from approximately 190 Baht per kilo (about $6.10 US) to 52 Baht per kilo (about $1.60 US). It costs about 65 Baht per kilo to produce rubber ($2.05 US). A rubber farmer in southern Thailand committed suicide over the weekend, allegedly because the low prices meant he couldn't provide for his family. Other rubber farmers have taken jobs in the construction trade or in Bangkok to provide for their families during the slump. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
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