Under the framework, the government could buy up to 200,000 tonnes of rubber, with an earmarked budget of about 12 billion baht. The money will be drawn from a rubber development fund in the central budget for emergency purposes. State agencies will also contribute their own budgets to buy rubber. The cabinet agreed that a suitable purchase price should not exceed 60 baht per kilogramme or 60,000 baht per tonne for the remaining three months before the rubber tapping season ends. During the next three months, rubber output is estimated at between 600,000-800,000 tonnes. Maj Gen Kraiboon Suadsong, head of the government's working committee for negotiating with rubber farmers, said the meeting of the committee andrepresentatives of rubber farmers in the South had reached an agreement. The farmers agreed that the subsidy must be made at an appropriate price point but did not request 60 baht per kg. The committee will meet with relevant agencies todetermine the subsidy price within two days, he said. The farmers also requested the government accelerate payment of previous measuresto help rubber farmers at 1,500 baht per rai.