The government has formed a technical committee to examine the proposal to establish an arecanut board following recommendations by the Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission, said commission chairman T.N. Prakash Kammardi.
Considering the turbulent situation arecanut growers are facing, there is a need to have an institutional set up to address the issues, Mr. Kammardi told reporters on Monday. Though various cooperative societies have ensured relief to growers, that is not enough especially with regard to research, arecanut import, and pricing.
The technical committee constituted by the State government comprises the Vice-Chancellor of University of Horticulture Sciences, Bagalkot, as the chairman, with officials from the Horticulture Separtment, CPCRI and arecanut cooperatives as members.
Earlier, Mr. Kammardi held a meeting with farmers, cooperatives and officials of agriculture and horticulture departments in the city. He said the commission held elaborate consultations with stakeholders in arecanut farming, including farmers, cooperatives, scientists, traders, and government officials, before concluding that there was a need for the Board.
The Board should be set up through an Act of Parliament with all-India jurisdiction on the lines of the boards for coffee, rubber, tobacco, and spices. It should be under the control of Union Ministry of Commerce with the Government of India and the Government of Karnataka being equal stakeholders, he said.
Expressing concern over the dwindling farm holdings under paddy cultivation in Dakshina Kannada District, Mr. Kammardi said a team of officials and farmers from the district would be sent to Kerala to study the special package offered for rain-fed paddy cultivation.
Source : The Hindu
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