Davangere: Like sugarcane growers, arecanut growers too are in distress owing to the sudden fall in prices. The prices of arecanut have fallen by Rs 10,000 per quintal in a month going back to the rate that existed three years ago.
The price which was around Rs 46,000 in the month of June this year came down to Rs 36,000 in the first week of July. Much to the disappointment of growers, the rate has plummeted to Rs 25,000 in August.
Last year was an astounding year for growers with the price spiralling to an all time high of Rs 90,000 per quintal from Rs 20,000 between April-July 2014. After that the prices have been dropping steadily.
Most farmers had switched to areca plantation after they saw the unprecedented price last year. The area under areca plantation in Davangere district is about 36,000 hectares and around 90,000 tonnes of arecanut is being produced in the district. Meanwhile, farmers are struggling to save areca trees due to the deficit in rainfall.
Farmers allege that the lobby of gutka manufacturing companies and arecanut businessmen have brought the prices down. Import of arecanut from other countries too has reduced the market for indigenous produce. Arecanut is being imported from Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and other countries but the quality of imported areca does not match that of indigenous arecanut.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, arecanut grower Shubhas Mallanagowda of Malalkere village alleged that the state and union governments have failed in reining in gutka manufacturing companies and the areca business lobby. The government should fix the price at Rs 35,000 per quintal for rashi arecanut and purchasers should not buy the produce below Rs 35,000, he said. To protest again the sudden fall in prices, the sale of arecanut will be cancelled on August 14 at Davangere APMC yard and there will be no areca business on the day.
