It has been reported that the Manufacturers Association has decided to increase the price of matches in tamil Nadu.
In tamil Nadu, matches are manufactured in Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi, tirunelveli and Vellore districts and millions of workers are engaged in the match industry.
The main raw material for the industry, matchstick is available in the state of Kerala. The matches produced there are made from wood such as mussels, albizia, rubber, aspen, poplar, milk drumsticks and sold to match factories in tamil Nadu.
The Match Manufacturers Association has also decided to increase the price of matches as the prices of raw materials including wax, cardboard, chloride and phosphorus have gone up.
Increase in price
According to the Match Manufacturers Association, the price of a kilogram of phosphorus has increased from 410 rupees to 750 rupees. Wax has risen from Rs 62 per kg to Rs 85 per kg.
Chloride has been increased from Rs 70 to Rs 82 and card from Rs 42 to Rs 55. Also, the cost of vehicles has gone up as diesel prices have also gone up. The Match Manufacturers Association has decided to increase the price of matches from Rs. 1 to Rs. 2 from december 1 due to the high price of raw materials.
Match
The firewood accounted for 85 per cent of the total demand for firewood. According to 2012, the manufacturers' association pointed out that all the growing match trees would be cut down in 5 to 10 years, which would lead to a severe shortage of matches and 1.6 crore kg of matches per month would be required for the production of matches.
Also, it is noteworthy that the Match Manufacturers Association had demanded that the government of tamil Nadu should take action to ensure that the trees in tamil Nadu are cultivated and benefited by the Forest Department for the benefit of tamil Nadu farmers.