Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has said that he would personally visit Karnataka, along with a team of scientists and experts, to review the situation on the ground and formulate a roadmap for the development of arecanut cultivation in the state.
Chairing a high-level meeting on arecanut development in New Delhi on Thursday, he said arecanut is an important commercial crop that holds a significant place in India’s religious, social and cultural practices. Due to the presence of various alkaloids, it is also used in Ayurvedic and veterinary medicines.
Referring to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, Chouan said the report had created some confusion regarding arecanut. To dispel these misconceptions, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s (ICAR ) team of scientists is conducting studies and the team has been instructed to submit its report within a fixed time frame.
On the disease attacking arecanut plants, he said it is being addressed by scientific teams. The Government is seriously considering appropriate compensation to farmers for the heavy losses caused by viral infections.
Issues such as illegal imports of arecanuts, moisture problems and price differentials between small and large nuts were also extensively discussed. He assured that all issues will be resolved in a time-bound manner and that the interests of farmers and the arecanut industry will be fully protected.
The Union Ministers HD Kumaraswamy and Pralhad Joshi, and Members of Parliament from arecanut-producing regions, and senior officials from various departments and ministries attended the meeting. Several important issues related to the arecanut crop were discussed in detail during the meeting.
India is the world’s largest producer of arecanuts, accounting for about 63 per cent of total global production. In 2023–24, India produced approximately 14 lakh tonnes (lt) of areca nuts from 9.49 lakh hectares (lh).
Karnataka ranks first, with a production of 10 lt from 6.76 lh, followed by Kerala, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and others.
A press release by Press Information Bureau said the total market value of arecanuts produced in the country is approximately ₹58,664 crore as per current prices. It is estimated that around six million people in India are occupationally dependent on arecanut farming.
Published on August 21, 2025