The Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, will lead a delegation of growers and MPs from arecanut-growing regions to the Prime Minister to seek the postponement of ban on marketing of ‘gutkha' in plastic sachets by a year.

Mr K. Padmanabha, President of Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd, who led a delegation of growers and cooperatives to the Chief Minister on Tuesday, told Business Line that the delegation led by him explained the CM about the impact of the ban on arecanut sector. Mr Yeddyurappa was told about the fall in the prices of red arecanut after the ban was imposed.

(Buying of red arecanut has come to a standstill in the major red arecanut markets such as Shimoga, Sirsi, Davangere and Tumkur, as the gutkha manufacturers have stopped buying them. Red arecanut is one of the ingredients of gutkha along with tobacco.)

Assurance

After listening to growers and cooperatives, Mr Yeddyurappa has assured them of leading a delegation, with representatives from all political parties and farmers, to Delhi by March 11, Mr Padmanabha said. As the ban has affected the prospects of farmers, the Prime Minister will be requested to postpone it by a year, he said.

Mr Yeddyurappa also informed them that the Additional Advocate General of Karnataka, Mr K.M. Nataraj, will be asked to take up the case of ban in the Supreme Court, on behalf of arecanut growers in the State.

It may be mentioned here that the Central Government had notified the rules to ban the marketing of tobacco products in plastic pouches on February 4. This followed a directive by the Supreme Court to the Government banning the marketing of tobacco products in plastic pouches by March 1.

Mr A.S. Bhat, Managing Director of Campco, and Mr K. Narasimha Nayak, Vice-President of Malnad Arecanut Marketing Cooperative Society, Shimoga, were present in the delegation.

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