The Hindu Business Line : Stress on arecanut cultivation

While submitting the proposals on Friday, the Finance Minister, Mr B.S. Yediyurappa, said the yellow leaf disease and `koleroga' (fruit rot disease) were the limiting factors for the cultivation of arecanut. He announced Rs 2 crore to establish an `Areca Research Institute' at Sringeri to study these factors.

Copper sulphate subsidy

Welcoming the proposal to set up the institute, Mr S.R. Rangamurthy, President of Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd, told Business Line that he was disappointed that there was no mention about allocation of funds to study the alternative uses of arecanut.

Stating that the Government should have announced a subsidy on copper sulphate solution, he said the high price of copper sulphate was coming in the way of small and medium farmers. "A subsidy package for copper sulphate would have helped the farmers," he said. Copper sulphate solution is used to control the fruit rot disease.

Mr Sridhar G. Bhide, President of the Mangalore Agriculturists Sahakari Sangha, said the Government should have given attention on increasing the consumption pattern of arecanut. Various value-added products could be prepared from the commodity. However, this needs a post-harvest research, he said.

Stating that some progressive farmers have ventured into the production of value-added products, he said those people should be encouraged.

Mr M. Srinivasa Achar, President of the All India Areca Growers' Association, said the Government had taken a good step to set up a research institute to study the production aspect. At the same time, marketing aspect should also have been given importance. The Government could have followed Kerala model, where the Kerala Government has earmarked certain amount for innovation and market the commodity, he added.

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