The farmers, engaged in cultivating arecanut, will take out a tractor and vehicle rally here on March 7 to the deputy commissioner’s office opposing the import of arecanuts from other countries.
The march is organised by Raitha Sangagala Okkuta and other pro-farmer organisations in the district. “India is already producing enough arecanut of good quality compared to others in the world.
Despite that, there is encouragement to import areca into the country. The development is detrimental to Indian farmers, especially those from Karnataka, who have a lion’s share of production,” said Sunny D’Souza, district president of Okkuta.
He was addressing reporters on Tuesday. D’Souza said that not long ago, Shivamogga was the largest producer of arecanuts, followed by Dakshina Kannada, which was producing about 90 lakh metric tons of areca. Over the years, Dakshina Kannada has doubled its production.
“The areca farmers in DK continue to contribute to the production of the crop despite diseases such as fruit rot and yellow leaf diseases. The import of areca from other countries adds to their burden. It is resulting in price drops thereby financial losses.
In order to protest the govt’s import policy of areca, many farmers will take out a tractor and vehicle rally starting from BC Road and culminating at the deputy commissioner’s office here on March 7,” said D’Souza. He questioned the need to import areca when the country produces ample supply.
The Okkuta demanded a complete ban on the import of areca as well as coconut; a loan waiver for farmers; stopping atrocities on farmers protesting in Delhi; withdrawal of all anti-farmer bills; monetary compensation for farmers who ended their lives due to crop loss; compensation to areca farmers whose crops was affected by diseases; and stopping the alternative plan to lay a 400 KV power line, which will affect farmers in Bantwal taluk.