Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 16: Dakshina Kannada MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, said that MPs from the state have arranged for a meeting with union commerce minister, Nirmala Seetharaman, on December 18 to discuss problems faced by areca nut growers on account of cheaper imports. He explained that when a delegation of MPs from the state had met the minister on this issue, she had promised to stop areca nut getting into India through Nepal.

Speaking to press persons on Monday December 15, Kateel said that in addition to the commerce minister, minister for agriculture, Radhamohan Singh, and health minister, J P Nadda, will also be present at the proposed meeting. Kateel said that the discussions will also cover aspects like fixing minimum support price for areca nut and the apprehension of ban that has been lurking in the minds of areca nut growers since some years. The MP noted that the quantity of areca nut that has come into the country through Nepal this year has doubled as compared to last year, in spite of the fact that this crop is not grown in Nepal.

The MPs, during their meeting with the commerce minister, had pointed out that price of this cash crop has plummeted on account of its import from Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka etc.

"Because of pre-existing agreements with these countries, the minister expressed her inability to place blanket ban on its import. However, she has promised to keep regulations in place to ease the situation," Kateel added.