Lok Sabha Question No. 2548 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-16
Subject: Damage to Arecanut Crop
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri B Y Raghavendra

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2548 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH   DECEMBER, 2025

## DAMAGE TO ARECANUT CROP

## 2548.  SHRI B Y RAGHAVENDRA :

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the severe and widespread damage caused to the Arecanut  (Adike)  crop  in  the  Malnad  region  including  Shivamogga  District  in  Karnataka due  to  recurring  disease  such  as  Fruit  Rot  (Koleroga),  Leaf  Spot  disease  and  the debilitating Yellow Leaf Disease (YLD);

(b) the specific details of the estimated financial loss (in Rs. crores) and the total affected area (in hectare) in Shivamogga District due to these diseases during the last three years;

(c)  the  details  of  the  steps  the  Government  proposes  to  take  for  immediate  central assistance and relief to the affected farmers; and

(d)  the  details  of  the  financial  assistance,  if  any,  provided  by  the  Government  so  far  to Karnataka, specifically for addressing disease-related losses in Arecanut crops including Shivmogga Parliamentary Constituency during the last three years?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)

(a): As  per  the  surveys  carried  out  by  the  Central  Integrated  Pest  Management Centres (CIPMCs) of  Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, trace incidence has been found for Fruit Rot (Koleroga), Leaf spot disease affecting arecanut in Malnad region of Karnataka during 2022-23 to 2024-25, However, no incidence of Fruit rot and LSD has been reported so far during the current year i.e. 2025-26.

(b): As  per  report  submitted  by  the  State  Government  of  Karnataka,  the  estimated financial loss and the total affected area in Shivamogga District for last three years is as follows :

| Year    | Total Arecanut area (in ha)   | Leaf Spot Disease           | Leaf Spot Disease            | Koleroga (Fruit rot)        | Koleroga (Fruit rot)         |
|---------|-------------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------|
| Year    | Total Arecanut area (in ha)   | Total Affected Area (in ha) | Financial Loss (Rs in crore) | Total Affected Area (in ha) | Financial Loss (Rs in crore) |
| 2022-23 | 1,18,836                      | 5991.3                      | 14.970                       | 6720.10                     | 16.800                       |
| 2023-24 | 1,25,456                      | 11950.0                     | 31.368                       | 8800.00                     | 23.100                       |
| 2024-25 | 1,37,410                      | 30630.3                     | 136.300                      | 37383.40                    | 166.350                      |

(c) & (d): The  Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  (MoA&FW)  constituted  a National  Scientific  Committee  (NSC)  on  Arecanut  in  2022  to  address  various  issues, including  Yellow  Leaf  Disease  (YLD)  and  Leaf  Spot  Disease  (LSD)-  affecting  arecanut farmers.  Based  on  detailed  field  studies,  consultations  and  scientific  assessments,  the NSC submitted  its  final  report  recommending  integrated  management  of  LSD  through appropriate  nutrient  management  and  fungicide  applications.  For  YLD,  a  long-term strategy  has  been  formulated  to  identify  YLD-tolerant  palms  and  to  propagate  them through tissue culture.

The  Directorate  of  Arecanut  and  Spices  Development  (DASD)  established  large scale demonstration on community-based management of leaf spot disease in Arecanut gardens in  10  Taluks  in  4  districts  (Shivamogga,  Chikmagalur,  Dakshina  Kannada  and Uttara Kannada) in Karnataka from 2024-25 in the selected farmers ' fields of the affected area. An amount of Rs 6.316 Crore has been sanctioned for this programme for a period of three years.

The Government  of  India  sanctioned  Rs  3700  lakhs  to  State  Horticulture  Mission, Karnataka in 2024-25 for the management of Leaf Spot Disease in Arecanut. During the year  2025-26,  under  the  National  Horticulture  Mission  (NHM)  Scheme  -' Special Interventions Program ' ,  a  total grant of Rs.860.65 lakhs has been allocated for the leaf spot disease control in arecanut crop and the program is in progress, out of which Rs. 189.25 lakhs has been allotted to Shivamogga district and so far 146.24 lakhs has been released to 2755 farmers.

During the year 2023-24, under the integrated management of pest and diseases in horticultural crops, a grant of Rs. 250 lakhs has been provided by Dept of Horticulture, Government  of  Karnataka,  to  8661  farmers  for  management  of  Arecanut  leaf  spot disease.

Under the National Horticulture Mission Scheme, subsidy of Rs.1500/- per hectare is being provided for integrated disease/pest and nutrient management of horticultural crops including arecanut crop.

Further,  Arecanut  crop  has  been  notified  in  the  districts  under  the  Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) for the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, and insurance compensation is being provided under the said scheme in case of crop loss due to weather conditions.

|   Sl. No. | Crop Insurance details for the year 2024-2025   | For Arecanut growing districts   | Shivamogga District   |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------|
|         1 | Applications received (Nos)                     | 5,28,705                         | 87,002                |
|         2 | Area (Covered) in hectares                      | 1,73,060.42                      | 40,118.73             |
|         3 | Sum insured (Amount in Lakhs)                   | 2,21,517.33                      | 51,351.98             |
|         4 | Claim amount paid (Claim amount in Lakhs)       | 34,444.94                        | 10,727.30             |
|         5 | Number of beneficiaries                         | 2,76,742                         | 86,085                |

In  2025-26,  a  total  of  6,52,440  applications  for  Arecanut  insurance  has  been received under RWBCIS, out of which 1,18,345 are from Shivmogga District.

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