MLA Belur Gopalakrishna has demanded for a separate package to bail areca growers out of financial crisis.
Taluk Agriculture Produces Marketing Co-operative Society distributed copper sulphate at 50 percent subsidy for farmers, under National Horticulture Mission, on Friday.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that availability of copper sulphate at appropriate time will help the ryots to tackle fungal infection in areca crop. Earlier, when areca price evidenced slump,  the Government had rushed to rescue farmers by announcing support price. TAPMC had served as implementing agency for support price scheme. Lauding the initiative of TAPMC to provide copper sulphate at subsidised rate, he asked the authority concerned to ensure the availability of fungicide for farmers from remote places also.
Addressing the gathering, Zilla Panchayat member Jayant informed that Rs 1.20 crore has been allotted under National Horticulture Mission for providing fungicide for farmers in the district.
Referring to stereotype notion that all areca growers are affluent, he demanded the State government to constitute a committee to study the condition of areca growers.
District Credit Co-operative Bank President Manjunath Hegde, TAPMC President K R Sridhar Bhat, former Legislator L T Thimmappa Hegde and others took part in the programme.