Former Karnataka Minister Araga Jnanendra has expressed concern about the hardships faced by areca nut growers who are being impacted by the ban on gutka by the state government in Karnataka, and is concerned about the impact of this on the areca nut market and farmers’ peace of mind.
Jnanendra said the impact of the ban has been seen in the areca nut market for nearly 20 days. The Karnataka government must act immediately and protect farmers who depend heavily on areca nut cultivation for their livelihood, he said.
Jnanendra said the gutka ban in a state where areca nut is cultivated extensively has added another burden to farmers. While measures aimed at protecting public health may be considered by the government, the economic impact on farmers must be taken into account, he said.
"Areca nut is cultivated extensively across Karnataka, and the government must stand by the growers during this difficult period," Jnanendra said, and said it is necessary to prevent farmers from suffering losses because of changes in the market.
The former minister noted that areca nut is not limited to a single region of the state. The crop is grown extensively in more than 12 districts of Karnataka, so this matter is important for a large farming community.
Shivamogga and the surrounding districts are among the most important areca nut-growing areas in Karnataka. Thousands of farming families depend on the crop directly or indirectly, and the trade of areca nuts also supports a wider network of traders, transporters, processing units, and other businesses.
Jnanendra said the government needs to consider how the gutka ban will affect the whole areca nut market rather than just the public health aspect. He appealed to the government to come up with a plan to keep growers from suffering a sudden decline in market demand and prices.
He also said that a delegation would meet Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar the next day to express concerns of areca nut farmers. The proposed meeting is expected to include legislators belonging to various political parties with interests in the areca nut-growing belt.
Jnanendra said representatives from the areca nut sector and MLAs from different parties would come together to place the farmers' concerns before the government. The aim would be to take such a step and seek immediate action to make sure that growers do not bear the entire economic impact of the policy decision.
The former minister also questioned the rationale behind banning gutka in a state with a large areca nut-growing population. He said the government should also look after farmers when implementing regulations for products containing areca nut as an ingredient.
The issue has emerged as a concern among growers at a time when fluctuations in agricultural commodity markets can have a direct impact on farm incomes. For areca nut farmers, market prices are fundamental to returns after cultivation, labour, irrigation, fertiliser, and other input costs are taken into account.
Jnanendra’s words have put on the agenda a very important balance between public health and farmers’ economic interests. He asked the Karnataka government to take steps to improve the welfare of areca nut growers.
The former minister also said that the government must not leave farmers to deal with the market consequences on their own. He said he would seek urgent discussions with farmers and all stakeholders in the areca nut trade.
With areca nut cultivation in more than a dozen districts, the issue could have implications beyond Shivamogga. Farmers and traders in other major growing regions are also closely monitoring developments in the market.
Jnanendra said he will bring up the concerns directly to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and seek government support for areca nut growers. He said representatives of all political parties from the areca nut-growing regions should work together to protect the interests of farmers.
The demand comes as growers increasingly worry about the impact of the gutka ban on market conditions. Farmers are now asking for more details about the government’s next steps and measures that may help them in preserving their income.
The former minister’s appeal has brought the economic impact of the gutka ban on Karnataka’s extensive areca nut sector into the spotlight, and the government’s meeting with the government is likely to determine what steps can be taken to support growers.
