Spot rubber rules firm
Kottayam, Sept. 29 Spot rubber finished firm on Tuesday. The prices improved as sellers stayed back letting the market to recover in tune with the domestic sentiments after the long holidays. Sheet rubber moved up to Rs 108 from Rs 106 a kg on covering purchases. There were no fresh enquiries from the tyre sector. Meanwhile latex 60 per cent declined sharply on low demand. The volumes were dull.

Futures steady
The October futures closed at Rs 107.31 (107.24), November at Rs 108.25 (108.39), December at Rs 109.85 (109.69) and January at Rs 111.50 (111.36) a kg for RSS 4 on National Multi Commodity Exchange (NMCE). RSS 3 improved at its October futures to ¥187.9 (¥186) (Rs 100.40), November to ¥190.2 (¥187.5), December to ¥192.1 (¥189.4), January to ¥192.7 (¥190), February to ¥194.8 (¥192.1) and March to ¥197.2 (¥194.4) during the day session on Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM). (BL)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/09/30/stories/2009093050791600.htm

Labour shortage cripples plantation sector
KOCHI: The severe shortage of labour that has come to characterise the agriculture sector in general is now threatening to paralyse the plantation economy of the south. The disappearing labour force, despite the trend of rising wages, is prompting the commodity economies to look for alternative solutions in labour substituting machinery and technology.

In central Kerala, the heartland of rubber cultivation, the growers are facing a serious shortage of tappers. Despite the fact that the wages have gone up from 20 paise per tree per day to Re 1 per tree per day in the past few years there are not enough tappers in the sector. (ET)
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/commodities/Labour-shortage-cripples-plantation-sector/articleshow/5070085.cms