Rubber: A Na-Ranong struggles with history

His ancestors brought rubber to Thailand. Now Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong must deal with disgruntled rubber growers, angered at the low prices in today's market.

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Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong is said to be "heavy-hearted" about the government's failure to solve the protests. KOSOL NAKACHOL

A Na-Ranong struggles with history

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Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong looks to have his work cut out for him in leading the government's attempt to end the rubber protests.

His ancestors were the people who first introduced rubber trees and plantations to southern Thailand in the early 1900s.

The introduction of the commercial tree started off a new industry and brought prosperity to the entire southern region.

Rubber has become the country's second most important export item, worth billions of baht each year. It also keeps more than 500,000 households employed.

According to the Office of the Rubber Replanting Aid Fund, the deputy premier's ancestor Phraya Rasadnupradit Mahisarabhakdi, or Kosimby Na-Ranong, had the idea of bringing rubber trees into Thailand after he went on a work study trip to Malaya. He saw how well the commercial trees grew and produced great yields for farmers.

Kosimby was governor of Trang at that time. He was later named Regent of Phuket and governed seven southern provinces including Krabi, Ranong and Satun.

Kosimby did not succeed in bringing back rubber saplings during that trip, however, as the plantation owner refused to give him any.

It was not until a few years later, in 1901, that one of his nieces was able to get hold of some rubber saplings from the Dutch East Indies.

Thailand's first rubber tree, planted by an ancestor of Deputy PM Kittiratt Na-Ranong, is still standing in Trang province. Google maps photo by pr8ngkiet.

According to the Rubber Office's website, four crates of rubber saplings – carefully wrapped in water-soaked cotton and paper – were brought to Siam on a steamboat. Kosimby's nephew – Phra Satholsathanpithak or Koyukiat – planted some of the rubber saplings in front of his residence.

The last surviving tree from that very first batch brought 112 years ago still stands there, in front of what is now an agricultural co-op in Trang province.

Koyukiat propagated the first batch of rubber saplings until they covered about 45 rai.

He is credited as the first owner of a rubber plantation in Thailand.

Despite his lineage, sources at Government House said Mr Kittiratt felt heavy-hearted about negotiating an end to the weeks-long rubber protest.

About 3,000 rubber farmers marched from Surat Thani Cooperative office in Phunphin district to block the junction of Highway No.41 and No.417, about 700 metres from the provincial airport. PATIPAT JANTHONG

He is particularly concerned that responsibility for the task has fallen to him.

Several earlier attempts to reach an agreement between the government and protesting farmers have failed.

The subsidy package approved by the cabinet fell short of the demand for a price guarantee made by rubber planters in the South.