The Malnad District Development Board held a consultative meeting with experts and growers on diseases affecting areca at Shivamogga on Monday. RM Chairman Manjunath Gowda, Agro Economist Prakash Kammaradi and others were present. | Photo credit: SK Dinesh
Shivamogga
Prakash Kammaradi, an agro-economist and member of the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission, advocated for the establishment of a national areca research center and a council to look after areca cultivation.
Mr. Kammaradi was addressing a consultative meeting organized by the Malenadu Area Development Board at Shivamogga on Monday (December 22, 2025) in the wake of leaf spot and other diseases affecting the areca crop in the Malnad region.
Leaf spot, a fungal infection, has hit areca growers in the Malnad region very hard. “The disease has resulted in a crisis and has made growers worried about the future of the crop. No remedy provided by scientists will relieve the growers from their plight. Now is the right time to urge the central government to set up a national crop research center as many such centers have been set up for other crops. Besides, a special board is needed to handle the crop,” he said.
Mr. Kammaradi appealed to growers, representatives of cooperative societies and elected representatives, irrespective of political affiliation, to present these demands. “Horticultural universities are facing constraints in starting comprehensive crop research. They hardly have staff and funds to conduct research. Therefore, as a long-term measure, the central and state governments should consider setting up a research center and board,” he said.
He further added that funding for research will not be a problem. The government could impose a cess of ₹100 per quintal of areca and collect ₹100 crore for research activities annually, he suggested.
RM Manjunath Gowda, chairman of the Malenadu Area Development Committee, who convened the meeting, said leaf spot has reduced the yield significantly. “There are many growers in Agumbe parts of Tirthahalli who used to harvest up to 80 cents a year, but because of this disease they have barely harvested five cents this year. I don’t think either the Center or the state will come to the farmers’ aid. On the other hand, areca growers are quite lazy; they don’t raise their prices unless they go down.
B. Gangadhar Naik, Professor of Plant Pathology at the Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga, gave a presentation on leaf spot disease and the research done by the university so far. Mr Naik, who also heads the university’s areca task force, said growers could minimize the impact of the disease through comprehensive management and early intervention.
Published – 22 Dec 2025 14:40 IST
