The Kozhikode-based Directorate of Areca and Spices has estimated arecanut production in 2010-11 at 5.36 lakh tonnes.

Speaking at a seminar on “Use of fungicides in areca plantations” in Mangalore on Wednesday, Mr Tamilselvan, Director, Directorate of Areca and Spices, said 5.36 lakh tonnes of arecanut were produced on 4.1 lakh hectares of plantations during 2010-11.

The Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd and Arecanut Research and Development Foundation had organised the seminar.

He said that Karnataka had a major share in this production. It produced 2.58 lakh tonnes of arecanut from 1.95 lakh hectares of plantations.

Since 1998-99, there is an increase of around 40 per cent in the area of cultivation of this produce at the national level. In Karnataka alone, there has been an increase of 70 per cent in expansion.

Earlier Karnataka, Kerala and Assam were growing arecanut. Now, the cultivation has extended to other States also. The Central Government is not encouraging the area of expansion of arecanut, he said.

Though significant portion of areca is used in the supari industry, the arecanut sector is facing various challenges. Other alternative uses have not been commercially exploited.

In such a situation, growers should think of areca-based mixed cropping. This would shield areca growers when prices of the commodity crash, he said.

Mr Tamilselvan said price fluctuation and diseases play a major role in the cultivation of this commodity. Cooperatives such as Campco have a share of nearly 15-20 per cent in the arecanut market. The rest is being controlled by private traders. Because of this, farmers do not get desired price for their produce.

He said that “‘fruit rot disease' and ‘yellow leaf disease' are affecting the prospects of arecanut growers in some areas. In such a situation, the seminar like this will help farmers to take an informed decision on the use of fungicides in their plantations, he added.

vinayakaj@thehindu.co.in

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