'Prevent entry of cheap arecanut from Sri Lanka'

BJP Lok Sabha member G S Basavaraj on Wednesday demanded the Centre to take steps to prevent the entry of cheap quality of Areca nut and coconut products from Sri Lanka to Indian markets.

Raising the issue in Lok Sabha, he said that due to the entry of low-quality plantation products from the neighbouring country, the prices in the domestic market have crashed.

"To safeguard the interests of domestic plantation sectors from the threat of cheap imports of areca nut and desiccated coconut produce routed through Sri Lanka under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), India should revisit and review the utility of the existing FTAs," he said.