Fall in areca price worries growers

The sudden fall in the price of arecanut has caused panic among the growers in the region.

Going by the details furnished in the website of Online Agricultural Marketing Information System, the price of areca has slumped by around Rs 10,000 in a matter of a few days.

According to the website monitored by Department of Agricultural Marketing and Karnataka State Agricultural Marketing Board, the maximum price of bette variety of arecanut per tonne was Rs 40,109 on November 7.

It has now slumped to Rs 30,000 per tonne.

Similarly, the price of gorabalu variety has dipped to Rs 15,019 per tonne from Rs 18,000 in a matter of three days. So, they have urged the government to take suitable steps to stabilise the price of areca in the market.

Speaking to Deccan Herald over the phone, Amith, an areca trader, said the State government’s plan to ban sale of chewing tobacco is the main reason for the fall in price of arecanut in the market. So, the government should withdraw its decision.

Crucial time

Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission Chairman T N Prakash Kammaradi said: “This is the crucial time for areca growers and traders to focus on developing socially acceptable, sustainable and long-term areca-based products and marketing system.

It is not possible to jump into conclusion that the State government’s move to ban chewing tobacco is the cause for this.”

Malnad Sangharsh Kriya Samithi has urged MPs and MLAs of the State to protect the interests of the growers. They should urge the Centre to drop the idea of imposing ban on chewing tobacco.

If not, the growers will stage a dharna in front of the residence of the MPs and MLAs in the near future.”