Karnataka MP Brijesh Chowta seeks increase in moisture content norms for arecanut

He pointed out that under prevailing field conditions, arecanut is predominantly sun-dried, making it extremely difficult for farmers to achieve moisture levels below 11 per cent.

New Delhi: Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha member Capt. Brijesh Chowta met Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan on Wednesday and urged him to increase the current moisture content norms for arecanut from existing 7 per cent to more than 11 per cent.

During the meeting, Chowta highlighted the challenges arising from the current moisture content norms prescribed under FSSAI regulations, which fix the permissible limit for arecanut at 7 per cent.

The BJP MP pointed out that under prevailing field conditions, especially in humid and coastal regions, arecanut is predominantly sun-dried, making it extremely difficult for farmers to achieve moisture levels below 11 per cent.

The current stringent norms have led to widespread rejection or downgrading of produce, resulting in significant financial losses for the farmers, he said.

Chowta also raised concerns regarding the lack of uniform moisture testing mechanisms across mandis, which often leads to arbitrary assessments and price exploitation. He further highlighted that the classification of arecanut under “fruits and nuts” appears technically misaligned, given its low fat content and closer similarity to commodities like pulses and cereals, where higher moisture limits are permitted.

Chowta proposed a set of solutions and requested the Union Minister to revise the permissible moisture content for arecanut to around 11 per cent in line with comparable agricultural commodities, reassess its classification under a more appropriate commodity category, introduce standardized moisture testing protocols across markets to ensure uniformity and transparency, and support farmers with improved post-harvest infrastructure, including drying and storage facilities.

"The Union Minister assured that the concerns would be examined in detail," Chowta said in a statement.