A HIGH LEVEL MEETING ON ARECANUT DEVELOPMENT

A HIGH LEVEL MEETING ON ARECANUT DEVELOPMENT

22-AUG-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

DELHI--------------------------A high-level meeting was held today at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi under the chairmanship of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Minister of State, MPs from arecanut producing areas and officials of various departments/ministries were present in this meeting. Various important issues related to arecanut crop were discussed in the meeting.

Discussing the World Health Organization (WHO) report on betelnut, the Union Minister said that a report has created some confusion about the betelnut of Karnataka. He said that to remove the misconceptions created by the WHO report on betelnut, a team of ICAR and scientists is conducting tests and very soon it will be clear that betelnut is not carcinogenic. The team has been instructed to submit the report soon in a timely manner.

Shri Chouhan said that people have been eating betelnut in India since ancient times. Betel nut is used in every auspicious work here. Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that a team of scientists is working to control diseases like Aerolif which destroys betel nut trees. Also, there has been a discussion on providing clean plants. The Union Agriculture Minister said that we are also seriously considering the issue of compensation and reimbursement of the huge loss suffered by betel nut farmers due to the virus. Along with this, we have also discussed in detail other issues like illegal import of betel nut, problem of moisture and difference in prices of small and big betel nuts. He said that it is our resolve that all issues will be resolved in a timely manner and the interests of farmers and betel nut industry will be fully protected.

The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister also said that betel nut is an important commercial crop which is given a place in all religious, social and cultural rituals in India. He said that due to the many alkaloids present in betel nut, it is used in Ayurvedic and veterinary medicines.

Finally, the Agriculture Minister said that he himself will visit Karnataka with a team of scientists, experts and take stock of the situation and decide the future outline for the development of betel nut production.

India is the largest betel nut producing country in the world. We have about 63% share in the total betel nut production. In the year 2023-24, about 14 lakh tonnes of betel nut was produced in India from 9.49 lakh hectare area.

Karnataka ranks first with 10 lakh tonnes of betel nut production from 6.76 lakh hectare area, followed by Kerala, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu etc. The value of betel nut produced in the country is about Rs 58664 crore at current prices. It is estimated that about six million people in the country depend on betel nut cultivation.

In the year 2023-24, India exported 10637 tonnes of betel nut worth Rs 400 crore. UAE, Vietnam, Nepal, Malaysia, Maldives etc. are the major export destinations of Indian Arecanut. Various steps have been taken by the Government of India to protect and support the interests of Arecanut farmers of the country-

Import of Arecanut in the country is a big challenge and the Government has taken several measures to reduce it. 100% import duty has been imposed on import of Arecanut in the country.

Government of India has recently revised the MIP of Arecanut from Rs. 251 per kg to Rs. 351 per kg. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has advised its regional offices to strictly follow the quality standards of Arecanut before clearing import consignments. Customs officials have been advised to check the source rules very carefully.

The Government of India constituted a National Scientific Committee (NSC) on Arecanut on 20th October 2022 to examine the diseases like Yellow Leaf Disease (YLD), Leaf Spot Disease (LSD) and other issues of Arecanut. For the control of this disease, a total amount of 3700 lakhs was allocated to the State of Karnataka under MIDH Scheme in the financial year 2024-25.

Further, for the financial year 2025-26, a total amount of 860.65 lakhs has been released to the State of Karnataka under the “Special Intervention” program of MIDH Scheme. In addition, a Scientific Demonstration Program for LSD Management in 50 hectares area in 10 taluks of Karnataka by the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development has been sanctioned Rs.6.316 crore for the period 2024–27.

A project titled “Evidence-based Research on Arecanut and Human Health” is being implemented. About 16 national and state-level agencies are working together for this project. An amount of ₹9.99 crore has been allocated for this under MIDH scheme.

Frontline demonstration programmes are currently being implemented in collaboration with Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD) and ICAR-CPCRI to promote improved technologies to increase farmers’ income from unit land.