The Liberian Senate on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has recommended to plenary for Executive Order 124, which place a ban on the exportation of unprocessed rubber from Liberia to remain in force until a legal environment is created to ensure total stability in the rubber sector.
In its report, the committee told plenary on Thursday, April 25, 2024 that the government should establish a National Rubber Board with membership drawn from all stakeholders in the rubber industry.
The committee said board will ensure an equitable determination of the monthly price of rubber.
According to the committee, the government must ensure that rubber factory owners are encouraged to operate at their full potentials.
“To put Liberia on par with regional standard, the National Legislature should enact a law on the control of unprocessed rubber from the country,” the committee suggested.
They said their findings show Rubber sectors actors feel that it is at the mercy of the rubber factory owners, who they alleged are the ones determining the monthly price of rubber.
“A glaring fact that the major rubber factories could reduce their workforces in the absence of a national solution to this crisis. That taxes deducted from small rubber farmers dashed by the Consortium of Rubber Sector Actors are not being remitted to the Liberia Revenue Authority,” Committee report said.
The Agriculture and Fisheries Committee said Rubber Planters Association of Liberia (RPAL) including Firestone, LAC and Jetty Rubber argued that to maintain sustainable development in the rubber sector, the Executive Order 124 should remain in force because according to the committee, the ban creates security for the small farmers as farms are free from theft.
