The All-India Areca Growers' Association has asked the Karnataka Government to conduct village-level assessment of arecanut production loss during this year.
memorandum
Mr M. Srinivasa Achar, President of the association, who submitted a memorandum to the Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister at Puttur recently, said that agriculture and horticulture produce are prone for such production loss due to various reasons.
In the case of arecanut, the production loss is estimated at around 50-60 per cent during this year.
Causes
He said that yellow leaf disease and fruit rot disease are the main reasons for this production loss.
He said that very long ago, revenue officials were conducting the production loss of various commodities at the village level.
Since many farmers are dependent on arecanut cultivation for their livelihood, the Government should assess arecanut production loss at village-levels.
This would give a clear picture on the loss and help come out with suitable solutions for the loss.
Stressing the need for determining the cost of production of arecanut at the beginning of the season every year, he said this has been done for food crops at the Central-level.
The same procedure should be adopted for arecanut and other horticulture and vegetables at the State-level.
Impact
He said that most arecanut growers also take up cultivation of coconut, cocoa, banana and pepper among others. Any impact on arecanut production will also impact the other crops.
Highlighting the role of cooperative institutions in the arecanut market, Mr Achar said that the Government should support such institutions with zero-interest loans. This will help bring stability in the arecanut market.
The scarcity of manual labour is affecting arecanut growers also.
In such a situation, the State Government should encourage mechanisation in arecanut cultivation, he added.