Areca in Karnataka

Areca Nut in Karnataka

Karnataka has occupied first place among areca growing states in India. As per the statistics provided by government, areca is grown in many districts of Karnataka. Areca nut is grown in Karnataka as a cash crop and growers spend their entire life in developing and maintaining the crop. The cultivation of areca nut is concentrated in South Kanara, North Kanara, Udupi, Shimoga, Chikmagalur districts of Karnataka which receive heavy rainfall. Areca nut is also grown in plain land area districts like Chitradurga, Davanagere, Tumkur heavily and in certain parts of Hassan, Mandya, Mysore and Kodagu districts of Karnataka. While contribution to total production is about 45% from coastal belt regions, 40% from plain land area and remaining 15% from other districts. Areca cultivation is a traditional form of agriculture in malnad and coastal parts of Karnataka. In recent years, it has extended to plain lands blessed with irrigation projects and channel water.

The areca variety grown in different districts and belts varies in its quality, size, rate, taste and harvesting season. Usually crops are harvested in August–September in plain land regions and in malnad areas during December–January. The varieties grown are Mangalore white chali, Shimoga and Davanagere Api, idi, gorabalu and chikkamagalore saraku (hasa) bette, North Kanara rashi, chaali etc. In Karnataka areca nut is marketed as unhusked whole fruit, peeled boiled and dried whole nut, boiled and split nuts. Shimoga is a famous market centre for boiled splits (Chooru). Sirsi market is famous for peeled, boiled and dried whole nuts (rashi) and white chali. Mangalore is noted for sun dried whole supari (Chaali).

In India, Karnataka stands first as areca nut is sold through organised markets. The CAMPCO situated in Mangalore has established its branches and brands all over India. Along with areca, farmers also grow banana, pepper, cardamom, cocoa, coconut, and vanilla as sub-crops. Growers of Karnataka generally pay sufficient attention to the selection of land, planting technique, inter cultivation, fertilization, plant protection, and weed control.

It requires heavy investment of about Rs.2,25,000/- per hectare towards the cost of land layout, planting and recurring expenditure on cultivation up to the bearing stage, which takes nearly 7–8 years. Later, recurring expenditure comes to about Rs.1,00,000/- per hectare per year. The area of areca crop cultivation is increasing day by day in Karnataka as farmers plant areca in paddy and other empty lands as it is a cash crop. Hubli, Belgaum, Bangalore, Vijaypur, and Gulbarga are the terminal markets for distribution of areca to the ultimate consumers of the state.

Areca Nut in Uttara Kannada

We can see areca plants all over the district. The Uttara Kannada (North Kanara) district of Karnataka comprises 12 talukas. Geographically it is divided into three regions: Karwar, Ankola, Kumata, Honnavar, Bhatkal talukas are sea belt regions; Sirsi, Siddapur, Yellapur, Haliyal, Joida, Dandeli are pure malnad areas; and Mundgod is a plain land area. It is one of the major centres of areca nut cultivation and marketing in Karnataka.

Areca as a Commercial Crop in Uttara Kannada

Areca nut is the major commercial crop of the District, cultivated over more than 10,000 hectares and producing more than 12,375 M.Tns. per year. It represents 14 percent of the state's production. The yield in Sirsi, Siddapur, Yellapur talukas is high due to climate and soil fertility conditions, while at Honnavar, Kumta, Bhatkal it is comparably less.

Uttara Kannada district is also famous for intercrops like Pepper, Cardamom, Banana, Coconut, and Betel vine. In coastal areas, spices like Nutmeg and Clove are grown. After 1980, farmers of this District started showing interest in growing cocoa. Loss on banana and pepper due to 'Katteroga' (Quick Wilt Disease) turned cultivators to search for alternative intercrops. Sirsi Supari has created a brand image in the minds of consumers.