Nod to import of green arecanut for Bhutan worries Karnataka farmers

Mangaluru: The areca growers and co-operatives in Karnataka have expressed concern over the notification by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) allowing the import of green arecanut from Bhutan without minimum import price (MIP).

The DGFT has allowed the import of 17,000 tonnes of green arecanut every year from Bhutan through LCS Jaigaon.

“In the interest of the areca growers, the Union government should immediately withdraw the notification allowing import of the green arecanut,” All India Areca Growers Association secretary Mahesh Puchchappady said.

“Presently the import may not disturb the areca market. But it may affect the market and growers in the future. Areca import in any form will affect the growers of the country. Therefore, no import should be allowed,” he said.

The association has also demanded the government fix Rs 350 as the Minimum Import Price.

Meanwhile the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (CAMPCO) too has expressed concern over the notification.

“At present there is no need for arecanut growers in our country, especially in Karnataka and Kerala, to worry. However, in a letter to the Union Commerce Minister, and other concerned officials, we have expressed our opposition. We have expressed our concern to the commerce minister about the adverse impact of the implementation of this notification on the Centre's comprehensive policy of doubling farmers' income,” CAMPCO president Kishore Kumar Kodgi said.

CAMPCO, through a delegation from Delhi, has already urged the Central government to fix a minimum import price of Rs 360 per kg for the imported Chali variety. 

“We hope that in the coming days, the central government will take a positive decision to protect the interests of farmers,” he added.