Plea to revise arecanut package

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee has appealed to the Karnataka Horticulture minister to implement the arecanut package based on the Dr Gorakh Singh Committee report for the welfare of farmers.

The Committee members said arecanut farmers in the State have incurred losses due to various diseases that have damaged their crops this season. Arecanut farmers in Dakshina Kannada and Chikmagalur have been hit hard and Rs 6,000 compensation per acre (Rs
30,000 for six acres) announced by the Central government is of little help to them.

The Committee demanded the State government to increase the arecanut rehabilitation package from Rs 30,000 per six acres to Rs 1,20,000.