<p>The Horticulture Research Centre (Arecanut) in Teerthahalli has failed to meet its objectives even four years after its establishment.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The research centre, affiliated to the University of Horticulture Sciences, Bagalkot, was set up in 2008 at a cost of Rs two crore, with the sole objective of responding to the woes of areca growers. <br /><br />However, acute staff shortage has crippled the functioning of the research facility.According to experts, a research centre should have at least six technical staff and an equal number of non-technical personnel. <br /><br />But the one at Teerthahalli has only one technical person and others are working on contract basis.<br /><br />The Centre is starved of funds too. Initially, it was envisaged that Rs two crore a year would be released for the centre till 2010. <br /><br />However, over the past four years, the government has released only Rs two crore and the money was utilised to provide necessary infrastructure for the research centre, which functions from a rented building. <br /><br />The Bagalkot University, to which the Centre is affiliated, lacks specialisation in areca.Gurumurthy, professor at the research centre, told Deccan Herald that several researches had been taken up despite a dearth of staff. “But, the results can’t be produced overnight. One has to wait for fruitful results in research,” he said.<br /><br />Relief package<br /><br />The plight of areca growers doesn’t end here. The Union government has released a Rs 3.8-crore relief package to the Horticulture Department to tackle yellow leaf disease. However, the money can’t be utilised as the produce was afflicted with inflorescence die-back disease in 2011. <br /><br />According to agricultural scientists, areca cultivation in Malnad has turned out to be an unprofitable venture over the course of time. <br /><br />More than fifty per cent of the crop was lost due to inflorescence disease in Teerthahalli and Hosnagar taluks last year. <br /><br />Paddy is the only alternative for areca in the region. <br /></p>
<p>The Horticulture Research Centre (Arecanut) in Teerthahalli has failed to meet its objectives even four years after its establishment.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The research centre, affiliated to the University of Horticulture Sciences, Bagalkot, was set up in 2008 at a cost of Rs two crore, with the sole objective of responding to the woes of areca growers. <br /><br />However, acute staff shortage has crippled the functioning of the research facility.According to experts, a research centre should have at least six technical staff and an equal number of non-technical personnel. <br /><br />But the one at Teerthahalli has only one technical person and others are working on contract basis.<br /><br />The Centre is starved of funds too. Initially, it was envisaged that Rs two crore a year would be released for the centre till 2010. <br /><br />However, over the past four years, the government has released only Rs two crore and the money was utilised to provide necessary infrastructure for the research centre, which functions from a rented building. <br /><br />The Bagalkot University, to which the Centre is affiliated, lacks specialisation in areca.Gurumurthy, professor at the research centre, told Deccan Herald that several researches had been taken up despite a dearth of staff. “But, the results can’t be produced overnight. One has to wait for fruitful results in research,” he said.<br /><br />Relief package<br /><br />The plight of areca growers doesn’t end here. The Union government has released a Rs 3.8-crore relief package to the Horticulture Department to tackle yellow leaf disease. However, the money can’t be utilised as the produce was afflicted with inflorescence die-back disease in 2011. <br /><br />According to agricultural scientists, areca cultivation in Malnad has turned out to be an unprofitable venture over the course of time. <br /><br />More than fifty per cent of the crop was lost due to inflorescence disease in Teerthahalli and Hosnagar taluks last year. <br /><br />Paddy is the only alternative for areca in the region. <br /></p>
