Lok Sabha Question No. 1351 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-11
Subject: Assistance to Arecanut Crop
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri G Kumar Naik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1351 ANSWERED ON 11/02/2025

## ASSISTANCE TO ARECANUT CROP

## 1351.  SHRI G KUMAR NAIK:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मं त्री ) be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government  has  considered setting up an Arecanut Board for the development of arecanut cultivation;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;

(c) the  details  of  various  support  measures,  including  financial  assistance,  subsidies  and research initiatives, provided by the Government for arecanut growers; and

(d) whether the Government has introduced any schemes or programs to address challenges faced by arecanut farmers, including price fluctuations, disease management and market access and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

## (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (d) The Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing various  programmes  for  development  of  horticulture  crops  including  arecanut  in  the  country. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) provides assistance for development  of  nurseries,  plant  protection,  irrigation,  infrastructure  for  preconditioning  and laying of demonstration on farmer's field for arecanut. Interest subvention for projects related to creation  of  infrastructure  for  storage,  primary  processing  and  marketing  of  arecanut  is  also available under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Scheme (AIF).

The  research  and  development  of  arecanut,  at  present,  is  undertaken  by  regional  stations  of Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute's (ICARCPCRI) in Vittal (Karnataka), Kahikuchi (Assam) and Mohit Nagar (West Bengal). The institute has developed promising varieties for arecanut cultivation viz. tall varieties, semi tall varieties and dwarf hybrids. CPCRI has standardized operating procedure for spraying through drones in arecanut,  tissue  culture  protocol  for  mass  multiplication  of  dwarf  hybrids  &  disease  tolerant varieties, establishing relationship between weather and leaf spot disease of arecanut, developing IoT gadget for diagnosis & management of diseases, pests and nutrient deficiencies in arecanut.

The Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD) is promoting the technology of multi-species  cropping  in  existing  arecanut  gardens  by  conducting  training  programmes.  The Directorate demonstrates the effect of the new fungicide Mandipropamid in management of fruit rot in selected areas of Kerala, Karnataka and also lays demonstration to popularize the use of EPN (Entomopathogenic Nematode) in management of root grubs in Arecanut.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Govt of India intervenes whenever there is a severe incidence of diseases & suggests remedial measures and provides financial assistance on the request of the State  Government.  In  2024-25  Ministry  of  agriculture,  DA&FW  allocated  funds  Rs.  3700.00 lakhs under MIDH scheme for management of Arecanut Leaf Spot disease in Karnataka.

Government  of  India  implements  Market  Intervention  Scheme  (MIS)  for  procurement  of agricultural  and  horticultural  commodities  which  are  perishable  in  nature  and  are  not  covered under the Price Support Scheme (PSS). The objective of intervention is to protect the growers in the event of a bumper crop during the peak arrival period.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a crop insurance scheme that provides financial assistance to farmers in India for suffering crop loss/damage arising out of unforeseen events. The arecanut crop is also covered under Restructured Weather Crop Based Insurance Scheme (RWCBIS) scheme in Karnataka.

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