Yokohama Rubber, RAOT Hold Surat Thani Seminar on Natural Rubber

Yokohama Rubber held a seminar for natural rubber farmers in Thailand’s Surat Thani area in June. The event focused on improving natural rubber productivity and quality. The company organized the seminar with the Surat Thani branch of the Rubber Authority of Thailand. Yokohama Rubber’s natural rubber processing subsidiary, Y.T. Rubber Co., Ltd., operates in the area.

Fifty farming households participated in the event. Yokohama Rubber has held the seminar 11 times since the first session in 2020.

The company later provided participants with fertilizer developed using RAOT’s expertise at no charge.

Natural Rubber Farmers Receive Ongoing Support

Yokohama Rubber signed a memorandum of understanding with RAOT in January 2020.

The agreement covers economic support for Thai natural rubber farmers and improved supply-chain traceability. It also supports transparency and soundness under Yokohama Rubber’s “Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber.”

The seminar forms part of the company’s farmer-support activities under the agreement. Yokohama Rubber regularly holds the event with RAOT through YTRC.

Seminar Covers Quality and Workplace Safety

Lectures addressed nutrients in soil and plants, fertilizer use and contamination prevention. Presenters also covered workplace safety, health risks, quality improvement and farm management. Representatives from local government agencies, the police and a local hospital also delivered presentations.

Topics included laws governing the employment of foreign workers and respect for the human rights of foreign workers and ethnic minorities. Presenters also discussed coexistence with local communities, transportation safety and occupational health.

The safety training included measures to prevent accidents associated with rubber tapping.

Participants Report Greater Awareness

Post-event questionnaire responses indicated that the seminar increased awareness of cultivation methods and natural rubber quality.

“Although I had been applying fertilizer without much thought, I was able to learn a systematic approach,” one participant said.

Another participant said, “Hearing directly from YTRC, a natural rubber processing company, helped me understand that contamination by foreign matter is a serious issue.”

Responses also indicated interest in improving production management.

“Until now, I had left everything up to the tapper, but after attending this event I plan to share the necessary knowledge and points to be aware of with them from now on,” one participant said.

Another participant said, “I was surprised and impressed to see a tire manufacturer caring for farmers like us all the way down to the local level.”

Yokohama Rubber said the event also helped strengthen understanding and trust between the company and natural rubber farmers.

Seminar Supports Sustainable Rubber Policy

Yokohama Rubber is a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber. The company revised its “Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber” in September 2021. It has since strengthened its cooperation with GPSNR activities.

The seminar reflects the policy principle of supporting suppliers, small-scale farmers and other supply-chain participants. Yokohama Rubber said it will continue implementing and announcing initiatives aligned with the policy’s action guidelines.