Rubber Board Launches Mobile App to Collect Natural Rubber Prices

The Rubber Board has introduced a new mobile app known as ‘Rubber Trade Info’, to gather natural rubber (NR) prices on daily basis.

A Rubber Board press release said the aim is to improve the present price collection system and boost the data source. The strengthening of data source would help increase the precision of price collection in the future.

It added that the Board has developed the mobile application for the Android platform with the help of National Informatics Centre.

Rubber Board since 1970 has been gathering NR price from the data sources of dealers, manufacturers, processors, agents and brokers from Kochi and Kottayam markets. The published rate is an indicative or benchmark price that various stakeholders in the NR supply chain can utilize. The NR value chain that comprises growers, dealers, processors, manufacturers, policy makers and rubber production societies (RPSs) uses daily cost information for arriving at sale & purchase decisions.

After downloading the app from Google Play, a one-time registration will be required. This has to be approved by the Rubber Board for data feeding purpose. The cost data can be uploaded in the field every market day till 3 pm. A reminder will pop up for people who have not uploaded the data by 3 pm.

About Helpdesk Rubhelp

Besides this, the Board has also launched Rubhelp, a helpdesk to help stakeholders to acquaint themselves with & utilize different online services. The helpdesk, on a pilot basis in the 1st stage, will function at all the sub-offices & head office of Rubber Board along with the office of Revenue Intelligence Squad. It will be extended to all regional or zonal offices & other offices after assessing the utilisation of & demand for the facility.

This helpdesk will cover online activities connected with the issue of rubber licenses, filing of returns, filing of applications for Registration Cum-Membership Certificate for NR export & filing of applications, uploading of documents for NOC in respect of imported consignments of NR.