Rain Never Stops, Rubber Latex Production Stops, Rubber Farmers Threatened with Economic Crisis

Rupat, Riau-- Continuous heavy rain for more than two weeks on Rupat Island has caused rubber latex production to stop completely. Rubber farmers cannot tap because wet tree trunks cause the rubber sap to mix with water, reducing its quality to the point that it is unfit for sale. This has hit hard the farmer's economy which is completely dependent on rubber production.