Farmers call for immediate withdrawal of arecanut import order

Bengaluru: In a move that has left state arecanut farmers in distress, India has commenced the annual import of a staggering 17,000 tonnes of raw betel nut from Bhutan. Concerns are mounting as the central government proceeded with the importation without setting a minimum import price, sparking anxiety among arecanut growers across various districts, most notably in Uttara Kannada district.

The decision has cast a dark shadow over the arecanut market, with fears that the influx of foreign betel nuts could severely impact prices. Calls for an immediate withdrawal of the import order have intensified, as farmers unite to safeguard their interests.

The areca nut sector, which had experienced an unprecedented surge in storage over the past few months, is now facing an uncertain future due to the government’s decision. This move has lulled areca nut growers into a state of unease. In addition, the areca nut market in Sirsi has been shaken by a significant price drop.\

Outraged areca nut growers have raised their voices against the import of areca nuts from Bhutan. Over the last five years, areca nut cultivation has expanded across various districts, stretching beyond the traditional growing regions of Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, and Shimoga districts. This growth has been witnessed not only in Karnataka but also in other states. The importation of areca nuts is perceived as a direct blow to the indigenous areca nut industry, despite a lack of demand.

Karnataka boasts a sprawling arecanut area, spanning 4.20 lakh hectares. Impressively, the state accounts for over 35% of the entire country’s areca nut production. Over the past three years, areca nut production has surged by an impressive 20%, according to market experts.

Arecanut being grown in Shimoga district in 1.20 lakh hectares, Uttara Kannada in 33,365 hectares, and Dakshina Kannada covers 30,450 hectares. Furthermore, unconventional expansion of arecanut cultivation has resulted in fruitful yields across various other regions, such as 35,839 hectares in Tumkur district, 25,061 hectares in Chitradurga, 30,811 hectares in Davangere, 6,901 hectares in Haveri, and 29,214 hectares in Chikkamagaluru.

Regulations had previously established a minimum import price of 251 per kg for arecanuts entering India, aiming to protect the domestic market. However, this protective measure has been breached by the decision to import arecanuts from Bhutan without imposing the minimum import price. Importing from Bhutan poses an additional challenge due to the lack of ports in the country. As a result, arecanuts must be transported overland from Bhutan to Jayagan and Chamurchi ports in West Bengal, leading to escalated transportation costs. Experts highlight that the arecanut industry in Bhutan is relatively new, and the quality of their arecanut remains subpar. With less than a quarter of dry arecanuts available in a quintal of raw areca, it’s argued that the market will remain largely unaffected.

Farmers are not opposed to foreign imports , but they emphasise the importance of imposing appropriate taxes on such imports. Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh have thriving arecanut industries and are self-sufficient in production. Any necessity to import should be justified by shortages. However, the current situation appears to favour imported arecanuts, raising concerns among local growers.With a lengthy 18-day journey for container-filled arecanuts to reach their destination, there’s a risk of rotting nuts by the time they arrive. This adversely affects the quality and viability of the arecanuts. As a countermeasure, efforts are being directed towards pressuring the central government to reconsider the import decision. The already beleaguered farmers are now poised to face even more hardships due to the influx of Bhutanese nuts.

Hegde, President of the Hill Nadu Agricultural Development Society in Yallapur, emphasised, “It is difficult for us to get good quality arecanuts. A decision has been taken to put pressure on the central government against the import of

areca nuts.”