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Some farmers under the banner of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha have said they are ready to migrate from arecanut cultivation to other crops, provided the Government gives them a better compensation.
Participating in a meeting convened by the Dakshina Kannada district administration to discuss the problems related to agriculture, Mr Ravikirana Punacha, Working President of the Hasiru Sene wing of the sangha 's Dakshina Kannada unit, said the Rathinam Committee, which conducted a study on the problems of arecanut growers in 2000, had suggested that area of cultivation should not be increased. Added to this, the arecanut sector is facing problems such as price volatility and diseases. In such a situation, the Government should encourage farmers to migrate to food crops, he said.
“The Government should come out with a pilot project in this matter. Under this, the farmer who is interested in migrating to other crops should be given at least Rs 15 lakh an acre as compensation for migration,” he said.
Farmers in Dakshina Kannada district can look at other food crops, such as paddy, banana and sugarcane, among others, Mr Punacha told Business Line .
Stating that around 1,500 farmers are ready for this switch-over, he said this will provide nearly 1,000 hectares of land for cultivation of food crops.
Rising Production costs
As the switch over from one crop to another crop will need a few years of gestation period, it is essential for the Government to compensate them suitably, he said. Tobacco farmers are given compensation, if they are ready to migrate to food crops. Same methodology should be followed here also, he said.
Giving details of the widespread expansion of arecanut cultivation in the district, he said the Government record shows nearly 30,000 hectares of land under arecanut cultivation. However, it is nearly 55,000 hectares as of now, he said.
The production cost is rising every year, and the market is also volatile. He said in Sullia taluk the cost of production is estimated at Rs 114 a kg and in Bantwal and Puttur taluks at Rs 130 a kg. In places like Sampaje, yellow leaf disease is affecting the entire arecanut crop in the region, Mr Punacha said.
However, prices are not remunerative. Considering all this, the Government should come out with a pilot project to encourage migration to other food crops, he said.
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