Even as the upward movement of arecanut price continues, farmers who have suffered extensive damage due to drought and various diseases which affected the crop do not stand to benefit much.
The spot price of the tender arecanut in Meenangadi market on Friday was ₹ 116 a kg as against ₹ 72 a kg during the corresponding period last year. It was ₹ 108 a kg a week ago.
The price rise is attributed to the decline in yield due to drought and the Centre’s decision to increase the base import price of arecanut in January from ₹162 to ₹251 a kg, marketing sources said .
“The small and marginal farmers form a major chunk of arecanut growers in the district, but they will not benefit much from this sudden enhancement in price,” Gopi Keezhanikkal, a marginal grower at Panamaram, told The Hindu .
The yield had declined by more than 65% this year compared to the production last year, owing to various diseases which affected the crop such as nut rot or ‘Mahali’ and yellow leaf diseases as well as drought like situation during the flowering season of the arecanut palms, he said.
Though the Agriculture Department officials suggest to apply a Bordeaux mixture against Mahali disease, many farmer could not apply it on time owing to adverse climate, he added.
The farmers in the district prefer to harvest the arecanut in its tender stage, instead of in its ripened stage in other parts of the State, mainly due to keep the quality of their produce.
The Agriculture Department data reveals that 12,730 hectares of land has been utilized for arecanut cultivation in the district and nearly 75 percent of the cultivated areas had been affected with yellow leaf disease, a major threat threat to the arecanut farmers.
The uncertainty prevailing in the sector has also hit thousands of women workers who have been engaged in arecanut peeling works owing to the low production.
