Many have stopped harvesting rubber in Kerala because they cannot pay the labourers.
In Kerala's Kottayam district, 50-year-old Joy Nelliani needs to sell at least two kilos of rubber sheets every day to feed his family a meal of fish and rice.
Until a few years ago, that was would get Rs 400 but now it just earns him Rs 180 - the lowest rubber price in Kerala's history.
He has stopped harvesting the rubber this season because he cannot pay the labourers and has no money to buy fertiliser - which means a poorer yield.
"It has become difficult to provide for the family. Financially, it is very difficult for rubber planters. What used to fetch us Rs 200 a kg, is now worth only Rs 90," Mr Nelliani says.
With elections due this year, the crisis is catching wind in the state - especially in Kottayam - a Kerala Congress stronghold.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government has set aside Rs 300 crore to ensure planters get a minimum price of Rs 150 a kilo.
"This is the worst agricultural crisis Kerala has seen. The state is now providing Rs 150 per kg, Central government should add another Rs 50. All of Kerala - its labourers, its economy is badly affected," said Jose K Mani, Kerala Congress (M) lawmaker, who undertook a hunger strike last month demanding the Centre's intervention.
The Left, which hopes to come back to power this year, is supporting independent candidates who left the Kerala Congress for what they allege is lack of support to rubber planters.
Jacob Jose, an Independent Panchayat member has moved away from the Congress and is now backed by the Communist Party of India-Marxist.
"We should be getting help from UDF and Kerala Congress leaders but because we are not, we have even started thinking of a different political route and alternatives," he said.
"We as farmers have not received any help, at least the way we should have in Kottayam, where 80 per cent of agricultural land is under rubber," he added.