A high-level meeting on areca nut development was held today at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The meeting was attended by Union Minister of Heavy Industries Shri H. D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament from areca nut–producing regions, and senior officials from various departments and ministries. Several important issues related to the areca nut crop were discussed in detail during the meeting.

Referring to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, the Union Minister said the report had created some confusion regarding areca nuts produced in Karnataka. To dispel these misconceptions, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR )’s  team of scientists is conducting studies and the team has been instructed to submit its report within a fixed time frame.

Shri Chouhan said that people in India have been consuming areca nuts since time immemorial, and it is used in every auspicious occasion in the country. He said a disease like “areolate mildew”, which destroys areca nut trees, is being addressed by scientific teams. The availability of clean planting material was also discussed. The Union Agriculture Minister said the government is seriously considering appropriate compensation to farmers for the heavy losses caused by viral infections. Issues such as illegal imports of areca nuts, moisture problems, and price differentials between small and large nuts were also extensively discussed. He assured that all issues will be resolved in a time-bound manner and that the interests of farmers and the areca nut industry will be fully protected.

The Minister said that areca nut is an important commercial crop that holds a significant place in India’s religious, social, and cultural practices. Due to the presence of various alkaloids, it is also used in Ayurvedic and veterinary medicines.

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan further said he would personally visit Karnataka along with a team of scientists and experts to review the situation on the ground and formulate a roadmap for the development of areca nut cultivation.

Background

India is the world’s largest producer of areca nuts, accounting for about 63% of total global production. In 2023–24, India produced approximately 14 lakh tonnes of areca nuts from 9.49 lakh hectares.

Karnataka ranks first, with a production of 10 lakh tonnes from 6.76 lakh hectares, followed by Kerala, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and others. The total market value of areca nuts produced in the country is approximately ₹58,664 crore as per current prices. It is estimated that around six million people in India are occupationally dependent on areca nut farming.

In 2023–24, India exported 10,637 tonnes of areca nuts worth ₹400 crore. Major export destinations include the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Nepal, Malaysia, and the Maldives.

To protect the interests of areca nut farmers, the Government of India has taken various measures, such as:

• Areca nut imports remain a major challenge; to curb them, 100% import duty has been imposed.
• The Minimum Import Price (MIP) of areca nuts has been revised from ₹251 per kg to ₹351 per kg.
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has advised its regional offices to strictly enforce quality standards before approving import consignments.
• Customs officials have been instructed to carefully examine the rules of origin.
• To address diseases such as Yellow Leaf Disease (YLD) and Leaf Spot Disease (LSD), a National Scientific Committee (NSC) on areca nuts was constituted on 20 October 2022. Under the MIDH scheme, ₹3,700 lakh was allocated to Karnataka in 2024–25 for disease management.
• Apart from this, under the ‘Special Intervention’ programme of the MIDH scheme, ₹860.65 lakh has been released to Karnataka for FY 2025–26. Additionally, the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD) is implementing a scientific demonstration programme on LSD management across 50 hectares in 10 taluks of Karnataka, with an approved outlay of ₹6.316 crore for the period 2024–27.
• A project titled ‘Evidence-Based Research on Areca Nut and Human Health’ is underway, involving about 16 national and state-level agencies, for which ₹9.99 crore have been allocated under the MIDH scheme.
• Currently, DASD, in collaboration with ICAR-CPCRI, is implementing frontline demonstration programmes to promote advanced technologies aimed at increasing farmers’ income per unit area.  

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RC/KSR/AR

(Release ID: 2159561)