Union minister of agriculture and farmers welfare and rural development Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a 100% import duty on arecanut to stabilise the prices in the local market and protect the growers’ interests.
Addressing an arecanut growers’ convention at Sagar in Shivamogga on Saturday, Chouhan also announced that soon the country’s premier research institutions would release a research report on WHO’s classification of areca as “carcinogen”.
Questioning the WHO findings, he said arecanut has been in use for centuries. “Research from AIIMS, CCMB, and IISc will soon be made available to address the farmers’ concerns in this regard,” he said.
“I used to eat supari (areca) in the house. We use it while performing pujas,” the minister said, adding that the central govt will not accept WHO’s findings on arecanut.
Calling himself farmers’ representative rather than a politician, Chouhan said he will ask the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) to address the illegal trading of arecanut firmly to save the growers.
The minister also disclosed the setting up of a committee to address diseases of arecanut. “The upcoming central budget may have interventions to address these diseases,” he said.
Chouhan acknowledged former CM BS Yediyurappa’s influence on his agricultural budget implementation in Madhya Pradesh.
Education minister Madhu Bangarappa, who is in-charge of the district highlighted his father S Bangarappa’s role in doubling areca prices in 2006. He mentioned Union minister Amit Shah’s promises to Malnad growers during the Thirthahalli campaign during the assembly election and urged the Union minister to implement them.
Shivamogga MP BY Raghavendra requested evidence-based research on WHO’s classifications and funding for areca research.
He advocated controlling illegal cross-border transport of arecanut and liberal rules on moisture analysis standards from FSSAI.
Local MLA Gopal Krishna Belur advised farmers against adulterating arecanut.
The convention saw farmers submitting petitions regarding the areca ban, price fluctuations , wildlife damage to crops, and an increase in the insurance amount.
