Karnataka Govt urged to compensate areca growers

The Karnataka Government has been urged to compensate the areca growers affected by fruit rot disease in their plantations.

In a memorandum to Karnataka Horticulture Minister S. Shivashankarappa, the copies of which were released to the media here on Monday, M. Srinivasa Achar, President of the All-India Areca Growers’ Association, said that the continuous rainfall in the arecanut-growing regions in coastal Karnataka for the past two months has led to the onset of fruit rot disease in arecanut plantations.

Almost 75 per cent of plantations in the coastal Karnataka region have been affected by the fruit rot disease.

Usually farmers spray copper sulphate solution on the arecanut plant to control the fruit rot disease. The continuous rainfall this year has made it difficult for most farmers to spray copper sulphate solution to the plants.

Stating that arecanut is the main source of income for many farmers in the region, Achar said that the incidents of fruit rot disease in their plantations have caused worries to them. Spread of the disease would have an impact on the arecanut yield also, he said.

Achar suggested that the Karnataka Horticulture Department conduct a survey of the arecanut plantations affected by the fruit rot disease. The affected farmers should be compensated adequately, he said.

vinayak.aj@thehindu.co.in