The Rubber Development Fund Inc. (RDFI) is said to have taken charge to regulate the rubber industry of Liberia. The purpose of the Fund is to ensure the development and modernization of the Liberia rubber industry in all aspects of capacity building and manufacturing of rubber-based products to improve the performance and competitiveness of Liberia rubber supply chain and value chain activities.
According to the Chairman of the RDFI, Tokpah J. Mulbah, the Rubber Development Fund Incorporated has the statutory mandate to regulate the rubber industry of Liberia in accordance with the Act on December 27, 2017 that established it.
Section 7 (C) which talks about the function of the fund states that the function of the fund is “to promote fair and transparent rubber trade practices and develop a set of trade rules to bring order to the rubber trade.” While (n) of the same section states that the fund is also established “to ensure the establishment of a fair system for marketing of smallholder rubber.”
Chairman Mulbah said when the sector is regulated, the price for farmers will be improved and fair price will be given to rubber farmers. “Firestone producing and at the same time deciding the price of rubber is a conflict of interest which we RDFI has come to put stop to.”
At the same time, the Vice President of the Rubber Planters Association of Liberia (RPAL) Mr. Biney Brown has acknowledged the resolution signed with the RDFI for determining and posting a monthly price for rubber in Liberia.
The resolution states that “It is therefore certified by the undersigned members of the Board of Directors of the Rubber Development Fund Incorporated (RDFI) at its regular Board meeting held on October 10, 2024 at the hour of 11AM at its offices on Airfield New Road, Sinkor, Monrovia, Liberia, in accordance with RFDI Act of 2017 which created the Rubber Development Fund Incorporated, and its By-Laws, and that this resolution is recorded in its meeting minutes, bringing it into force and effect. This resolution shall be and remain in full force and effect until written notice of the revocation hereof shall be published. Now therefore, we affixed our signatures,” the resolution stated.
Signatories to the resolution include, Tokpah J. Mulbah, Cnairman, John S. Howard, Co-Chairman, J. Alexandra Nuetah, member, Fohn Gboweah, member, Upjit Sachdeva, member, Wilhemina G.M Siaway, Treasurer, Vijay Maria, member, Ben Garnett, member, Naveen Madan, member.
