Politicians going nuts over arecanut

Unless you are a paan consumer, arecanut or supari is unlikely to figure on your radar. Also called betel nut, a few small slices of arecanut are wrapped in betel leaves along with slaked lime and chewed to act as a mild stimulant. But consumed over a long period, this could cause cancer of the mouth and oesophagus, according to some scientists. Arecanut, a berry and not a nut actually, is also used in Hindu rituals. And it has become the flavour of the election season in Karnataka.

Not many may be aware that India is the world’s largest producer of arecanut with nearly 7.5 lakh tonnes of these nuts being produced every year. Of this, Karnataka produces nearly 63%, spread over half a million acres of land. It is a lucrative commercial crop which requires little effort and maintenance.

The growth is mainly concentrated in Karnataka’s districts of Shimmoga, Udupi, Mangaluru, Chikmagalur and Uttara Kannada where the climate conditions favour its growth. Lakhs of people depend on this nut for livelihood in these districts.

The nut has come into political prominence after PM Modi attacked the previous UPA government saying that it submitted an affidavit to court saying the nut had carcinogenic content. Modi promised to withdraw the affidavit.

Congress has attacked Modi’s statement, saying that it has been done with an eye on votes of arecanut farmers and processors. They are questioning why the Modi government, if it was really concerned, didn’t do anything for four years and is now suddenly remembering the affidavit.