In a significant move aimed at supporting agricultural communities, senior Congress leader and Karnataka politician Dinesh Gundu Rao has formally appealed to the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal. The core of his appeal is a request to recognize rubber as an official agricultural product and to establish a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for it.
Addressing Market Instability for Rubber Growers
In his communication dated 03 December 2025, Rao highlighted the acute difficulties faced by a specific group of cultivators. He pointed out that numerous farmers in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka are deeply involved in rubber cultivation. Their livelihoods, he argued, are consistently jeopardized by the unpredictable and often volatile swings in the market prices for rubber.
This instability leaves them financially vulnerable, with no safety net to fall back on during periods of price crashes. Rao's letter underscores that without a guaranteed floor price, these agriculturists bear the full brunt of market fluctuations, which can lead to severe economic distress and uncertainty.
The Formal Request to the Central Government
The key proposals put forward by Dinesh Gundu Rao in his letter to Minister Goyal are clear and direct. Firstly, he has urged the central government to officially classify natural rubber as an agricultural produce. This reclassification is a crucial step, as it would make the crop eligible for various farmer-centric schemes and protections, including the MSP mechanism.
Secondly, and most importantly, he has requested the government to fix a Minimum Support Price for rubber. The institution of an MSP would provide a much-needed assured income for growers, shielding them from the worst effects of price volatility and ensuring a degree of financial stability for their farming operations.
Potential Impact and Broader Implications
If the Union Ministry accepts this representation, it could mark a transformative shift for the rubber-growing community in coastal Karnataka and other rubber-producing regions in India. A guaranteed MSP would empower farmers, potentially boost sustainable cultivation practices, and strengthen the local agrarian economy.
The appeal brings to light the ongoing debate about which crops are covered under safety net mechanisms and the need to periodically review and expand this list to include commercially significant plantation crops that are the primary income source for many families. The response from the Centre is now keenly awaited by farmers and political observers alike.
