Report on Arecanut to be submitted to Centre on Apr 4: Union

To help the arecanut farmers tide over the crisis owing to the fall in price of their produce, a report on the medicinal properties of the nut has been prepared and it would be submitted to the Centre on April 4, Union Minister Ananth Hegde has said.

The report would help promote public awareness on the benefits of the nut, he said.

Titled 'Areca and Human Health,' the report prepared by scientists working with international and national research institutions of great repute mentioned that areca had medicinal benefits, contrary to the notion that it was carcinogenic, the minister told reporters here last evening.

It would be presented to the Union Health and Agriculture Ministries, the Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said.

Stating that ayurvedic physicians had been using areca due to its high medicinal value, Hegde said arecanut also finds a place in our age-old traditions, he noted.

The union of areca merchants, Members of Parliament and other organisations have been trying to persuade the Centre about the benefits of areca and the report was the first victory in this fight, Hegde said.

Alleging that a section of people, especially from North India, were trying to mislead people by spreading rumours about the adverse effects of areca consumption, he said these people knew hardly anything about areca.

Nalin Kumar Kateel MP, Capt Ganesh Karnik MLC and district BJP president Sanjeev Matandoor were present.