Government urged to curb import of arecanut

The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) has urged the Union government to initiate measures to curb the import of cheap variety of arecanut.

A delegation, comprising working president of the sangha H.R. Basavarajappa, and functionaries Kudligere Nagarajappa and K.M. Maheshwarappa submitted a memorandum to Minister of State for Civil Aviation G.M. Siddeshwar in this regard here on Monday.

In the memorandum, the sangha said that import of cheap quality arecanut had resulted in sharp decline in the price of local arecanut.

The Director-General of Foreign Trade that comes under the Ministry of Commerce, had enhanced the minimum import price for arecanut from Rs. 110 a kg to Rs. 170, recently. A section of traders engaged in arecanut import had questioned the order at Calcutta High Court, following which the court had stayed the enhancing of the minimum import price. The Union government should apprise the court on the need to enhance the minimum import price of arecanut to protect the interests of native arecanut growers, he said.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in September 2013 had written to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to examine the scientific evidences on the harmful impact of arecanut on the health of human beings with the objective of classifying arecanut as a substance injurious to human health. During a hearing on the case related to the ban on gutkha, the Union government had also submitted a report to Supreme Court in this regard. It was a known fact that arecanut was being consumed traditionally in India. The Union government should withdraw the report it had submitted to the court to protect the interests of arecanut growers, the KRRS has said.

Mr. Siddeshwara assured the delegation that he would look into the matter.

Delegation of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha submits memorandum to Siddeshwar

‘Import of arecanut has resulted in sharp decline in the price of local variety’