The Hindu Business Line : Areca growers seek Govt help for crop loss

Mangalore, Aug. 22 With the damage caused by fruit rot disease in arecanut plantations estimated to be at around 50 per cent, arecanut growers have demanded compensation from the Government for the crop loss. They have also urged the Government to impress upon research institutes to find a quick solution to fruit rot disease.

The President of the All-India Areca Growers’ Association, Mr M. Srinivasa Achar, told Business Line here on Tuesday that even after 60 years of modern agriculture practices and areanut having its own research station, no cure has been forthcoming for the menace of fruit rot disease.

Arecanut growers have suffered a crop loss due to the extended monsoon this year, he said.

The only control measure is a mix of copper sulphate and lime solution. Unfortunately, the prices of these commodities have skyrocketed. Lack of labourers to spray the solution and high wages have added to the woes of the growers, especially those with small holdings.

Added to this, many arecanut plants fell down at the beginning of the monsoon season due to very strong winds.

“An arecanut tree takes more than five years to bear fruit. Along with the loss of the present crop, the grower has to bear the cost of replanting and wait for another five years to get returns,” Mr Achar said.

SURVEY SOUGHT

The association has represented to the State Government, and has sought a survey on crop damage, he said.

While these factors have made the growers worry about the crop yield, the unbridled import of arecanut and scare regarding the ban on ‘gutkha’ have made the prices of the commodity un-remunerative.

“It is essential for the Government to provide adequate compensation to the growers for the trees lost due to winds, and for crop loss due to fruit rot disease,” he said. It is also essential to find a quick solution to fruit rot disease, he added.