Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Sep 9: The areca nut prices which were stable since about a month suddenly spurted on Monday, September 7. The price per kg of old areca nut went up by five rupees and commanded a price of Rs 400 per kg. New areca nut, however, has stayed at the level of Rs 360 per kg. In the open market new areca nut is being sold between Rs 365 and 375 while old areca nut has stayed at Rs 405 per kg.

Traditionally, newly harvested areca nut enters the market during the first week of October. The areca nut growers who collect the areca nuts that have dropped down from the trees and dry them, bring them to the market. Now there is a lot of interest about the price this areca nut might command when it enters the market.

As soon as areca nut prices rose many have sold their stock. A few have however stored it in expectation of better price. The supply of areca nut so far has not been able to match the demand for areca nut from north India. Therefore, the areca nut price has remained stable. There is an expectation that the new areca nut coming to the market during October might get the same price.

When the new areca nut enters the market during October, the new areca nut is known as single chol while the old areca nut is identified as double chol. Normally, old areca nut price hovers around Rs 280 and 285 per kg. During the period new areca nut enters the market during the first week of October, the price of new areca nut stays around Rs 200 and 210. But as the old areca nut has broken the barrier of Rs 400 this time, the growers expect a good price for the new areca nut.

Ashok Kinila president of All India Areca Nut Growers Association says that the areca nut price which has remained stable since some days went up a little on Monday. He feels that the growers need not be perturbed about the price as the import of areca nut from abroad is currently not happening. He said that because of this areca nut is commanding better prices now.