Heavy fall in production of betel nut due to adverse weather and disease outbreak

06-Nov-2024 11:48 AM

Mangalore. Heavy fall in production is expected in Karnataka, the major producer of betel nut, due to heavy damage to the crop due to various reasons. Initial indications show that betel nut production may decrease by 40-50 percent in some areas there. According to analysts, on one hand the weather conditions are not favorable and on the other hand, the infestation of insects and diseases has increased a lot. This has caused a lot of damage to the crop.

The president of the All India Areca Growers Association says that looking at the current condition of the crop, it seems that this time the production of betel nut will be half of last year. In the summer months, the temperature in some important producing areas had risen to a height of 42 degrees Celsius, due to which raw betel nuts started falling from the trees. After this, due to torrential rains, fall in temperature and increase in humidity, the spread of insects and diseases in the areca plantations increased. According to rough estimates, about 40 percent of the raw areca nuts fell from the trees due to severe heat, high humidity and outbreak of diseases. The crop was also damaged by the fruit rot disease. In this, insects spoil the betel nut grains.

After Diwali, the arrival of new stock of white arecanut has started and its supply will continue regularly in future. In view of the possibility of a sharp decline in production, a sharp rise in the price of arecanut is expected. Leading cooperative institution - Campco offered a high price of Rs 330 per kg for the purchase of white arecanut last day, while the offer of private traders was recorded at Rs 345 per kg. Its price was running at Rs 310-320 per kg in the same period last year. The price of red arecanut is being reported to be Rs 510 per kg, which is much higher than the price of Rs 475-480 per kg prevailing in the same period last year.