Plantations stare at huge losses with few hands to harvest standing crops

chronic shortage of rubber could impact the manufature of medical gloves, catheters and masks that are crucial in the battle against Covid-19

The 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has impacted tapping and maintenance of rubber plantations in Kerala, the state that accounts for about 80-85 per cent of the natural rubber produced in the country. 

This may result in losses of Rs 3,000 crore and also a shortage of rubber for medical products like gloves, catheters, sanitation masks in the coming weeks, growers said.

However, this is not just the plight of rubber growers, as plantations of crops like coffee, pea, black pepper are also staring at losses on standing crops as they face an acute