'Need to conduct research on medicinal properties of areca'

There is a need to conduct a research on value addition to arecanut. The growers should not lose confidence with destability in price of arecanut, said Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade.

He was speaking at a seminar on ‘Entrepreneur Development and Industrial Opportunities in Areca,’ organised by the SDM Engineering College, Arecanut Research and Development Foundation and Campco here. Heggade said it was Varanasi Subraya Bhat who started Campco to come to the rescue of areca growers in the region. There is a need to conduct research on the medicinal properties of areca, he opined.

‘Become self-reliant’

He also called upon the students become self-reliant by taking up areca farming.  CPCRI director Dr P Chowdappa said that the value addition to arecanut and its marketing will help in fetching profit. There are health and medicinal benefits in arecanut. Campco president S R Sathishchandra was present on the occasion.