Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 2: Dakshina Kannada (DK) MP Capt Brijesh Chowta on Monday December 1, raised strong objections in Parliament over the severe impact caused to Indian arecanut farmers due to large-scale import of arecanut from less developed countries such as Bhutan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
Speaking under Rule 377 in the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session, MP Chowta highlighted that duty-free import of arecanut from neighbouring small nations is inflicting a major blow on farmers across the country, including Karnataka. He drew the attention of the House to the seriousness of the issue on the very first day of the session.
He pointed out that under the Duty-Free Quota-Free (DFQF) system, the government of India imposes zero import duty on products from these less developed neighbouring countries to facilitate trade. However, these nations are misusing the benefit, resulting in the inflow of low-quality and cheaper arecanut into India in large quantities. This, he said, has caused a steep fall in domestic arecanut prices and pushed farmers into deep distress.
Between September 2023 and August 2024 alone, India imported 57% from Bhutan, 39% from Myanmar and 2% from Sri Lanka, MP Chowta stated with concern.
India is self-sufficient in arecanut production, with nearly 14 lakh tonnes produced during 2023–24. Karnataka alone contributes about 10 lakh tonnes. Despite such high domestic production, the import of inferior quality arecanut under zero-duty rules is unnecessary and harmful, he said. Farmers in arecanut-growing districts such as Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru are among the worst affected.
MP Chowta further noted that while India normally imposes 100% basic customs duty on arecanut imports, the zero-duty concession under DFQF has allowed these products to enter the Indian market freely, triggering price crashes, market instability and severe economic losses for lakhs of farmers who depend on arecanut cultivation for their livelihood.
Raising this grave issue in Parliament, MP Chowta has also submitted a representation to union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and union minister of commerce and industry Piyush Goyal. He urged the centre to remove arecanut from the list of products eligible under the duty-free import scheme and to reinstate the regular customs duty structure for imports from less developed countries.
He stressed that doing so is essential to protect the interests of lacs of farmers in Dakshina Kannada and other arecanut-growing regions.