SURAT THANI: By the light of a head torch, Wanida Hityim deftly strips bark from a rubber tree, collecting the milky latex as she explains why she's among a small number of Thai farmers trying to work more sustainably.
By the light of a head torch, farmer Wanida Hityim deftly strips bark from a rubber tree, collecting the milky latex. "This place even has worms in the soil," she said of her 1.5-hectare plot in the southern province of Surat Thani, home to about 500 trees. "All certification schemes have problems with auditors which are paid by clients, the companies," Rosoman told AFP.'It just dies': Yellow-band disease ravages Thailand's coral reefsAdopting more sustainable methods has enabled Wanida to sell her rubber at a higher price, earning her around US$650 a month instead of US$550.
But they were convinced by both the financial returns - Agriac offers a 3 baht bonus per FSC-approved kilogram sold - and also the ecological benefits, she said.