Rotting rubber finds buyer

AFTER rotting away for more than 10 years, tonnes of raw rubber in the remote central Kerema in Gulf have finally found a buyer.
Just three weeks ago, small rubber company Alvery Resources Ltd came to the rescue of more than 700 rubber farmers and bought two container loads of their produce.
Moris Aru, who coordinates the rubber farmers around Murua and Epo areas, told The National yesterday their rubber had remained unwanted for more than 10 years until ARL came to buy them.
“We lost substantial income over the last 10 years and we are delighted that at last, someone became interested in our rubber,” Aru said.
He said with the purchase, his people would be alleviated from their poverty.
Aru blamed poor road condition in their area, which also discouraged rubber buyers from Port Moresby to come, leaving their villages with piles of rubber bags with no buyers.
“Since Siraure bridge broke down 10 years ago, transport of rubber from Epo down to Murua and Kerema stopped and we had to transport it on dinghy to reach Kerema.
And using dinghies proved to be a very expensive than transporting it over land to Port Moresby,”Aru said.
ARL country coordinator Mana Viai said hearing the farmers’ pleas over their rotting rubber, he decided to help them.
His company had also provided the rubber farmers with tools and materials to help them with their production.
By next month, ARL will deliver to the farmers K20,000 worth of production materials and tools.