Liberia, March 30 -- A rubber farmer from Nimba County, Charles Bamakpeh, has joined several colleagues in issuing a passionate plea to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Vice President Jeremiah Koung and lawmakers.

They urged rejection of calls for a permanent ban on rubber exports. Speaking for small-scale farmers and brokers, Mr. Bamakpeh warned that such a policy would devastate livelihoods and revive exploitative practices.

He accused a "select group of people", including companies like Firestone and Liberian business tycoon Upjit Singh Sachdeva (alias Jeety) of lobbying with the government to restrict sales exclusively to them.

"They are doing everything to convince the president to impose a permanent ban on rubber exports," Mr. Bama...