Rs. 37 Crore Granted to Karnataka for Betel Nut Disease Control
06-Aug-2025 11:21 AM
New Delhi. The Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry has said that Rs 37 crore was allocated to the country's most prominent betel nut producing state - Karnataka during the financial year 2024-25 to control insects and diseases affecting its crop.
This amount was allocated by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under the 'Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.
It is noteworthy that about three-fourths of the betel nut in the country is produced in Karnataka alone. According to official figures,
71 percent of the total production area of betel nut at the national level is located in Karnataka, while the contribution of this state in some domestic production is close to 73 percent, while the remaining production takes place in other states including Kerala.
According to the Union Minister, the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development is promoting appropriate technology for the crop of different species and varieties in the existing plantations of betel nut and also organizes training programs from time to time.
Serious infestation of insects and diseases is often seen on betel nut plantations, for which necessary measures are being taken to prevent it. Regular inspection and testing of plantations of Karnataka and Kerala is also being done.
According to official figures, during the year 2023-24, about 10.32 lakh tonnes of betel nut was produced in Karnataka while its area there was 6.77 lakh hectares.
With this, Karnataka's share in the country in terms of area and production of betel nut increased to 71 percent and 73 percent respectively.
It is worth noting that there is no separate board for betel nut in the country, while there is a demand for its formation. In March 2025 itself, the Union Agriculture Minister had said that no proposal for the formation of Betel Nut Board is pending with the government.
An MP said that when there is Coffee Board, Rubber Board, Tea Board and Turmeric Board in the country, then what is the problem in forming a board for betel nut.