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A.J. Vinayak

Analysis conducted on request from Campco

Mangalore , July 19

A central research agency certifying arecanut has found the quality of the commodity imported into the country poor.

The Regional Station of the Central Plantations Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) at Vittal in Dakshina Kannada district had conducted an analysis on the quality of imported arecanuts following a request by Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd.

Third grade

`Chali' grade is considered supreme among the different grades of arecanut. Commonly known as `Mangalore chali', these arecanuts have a good demand in the north Indian market. However, the imported arecanut did not adhere to any of the specifications of `chali' grade. The report mentioned the type of arecanut as `unripe or tender mixed with chali', and it termed the quality as `third grade or below'.

According to specifications, `chali' grade should show well-defined white and brown veins and it should be devoid of husk fibres. However, the imported arecanuts did not show well-defined white and brown veins. On an average, 92 to 100 arecanuts are present in a kg of `chali' grade, where as the number was more than 120 in the imported samples.

Naturally the `chali' grade possess light brown to brown colour and the colour does not wash off in water.

However, the colour coating was given externally in the case of imported samples. Added to this, the fungal infestation was spoiling the physical appearance of the nut.

Findings

The report said: "Samples have been received by different agencies at the Customs from the other States for analysis at this institute. These have been found to be of very poor quality."

Campco sources said arecanuts were being imported to India from the countries such as Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh through legal and illegal means.

They demanded that the central agencies such as CPCRI be made certification agencies for the imported arecanut. Such as move will help control the import of arecanut, they added.

Mr M. Srinivasa Achar, President of the All-India Arecanut Growers' Association, told Business Line that Indian arecanut growers had achieved self-sufficiency in arecanut production, and any import of arecanut would affect the interests of growers in the country.

"We follow various norms while cultivating and processing the arecanut. However, imported arecanuts do not adhere to such norms," he said.

Stating that the Regional Station of CPCRI was started as an arecanut research station 50 years ago, he said the expertise of the regional station has helped the growers in producing quality arecanut.

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