Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Nov 16: The proverbial Damocles Sword of call for banning areca nut has again started to hang on the heads of areca nut farmers. A letter written by Nishikant Dubey, an MP from Jharkhand, to the central government, claiming that areca nut has poisonous content, has caused new concerns. Noting that the threat of arecanut ban has been spoofing up now and then, thus giving sleepless nights to the farmers, secretary of All India Areca Growers Association, Mahesh Puchchappady, has urged the central government to undertake measures to permanently end such rumours which are detrimental to the farmers.

At the same time some have also been spreading the information that chemicals are used in growing and processing areca nut. Before the areca nut grows, chemicals like copper sulphate are used to ensure that areca inflorescence do not wither, it is claimed. Further, it is being claimed that sulphur is used to polish the areca nut in the gorbals which are used to process areca nut before they are sold. When storing areca nut, another chemical is used to avoid the areca from getting destroyed by the maggots. Again, when preparing gutkha, another chemical is mixed with areca, says local social activist, Lokesh Almuda.