Tripura betel leaf and areca nut growers demand government support amidst challenges

Pabitra Kar, the secretary of the Tripura unit of the All India Krishak Sabha, raised concerns on Friday about the plight of betel leaf and areca nut growers in the state, alleging governmental neglect and failure to address their needs effectively.Speaking at a press conference, Kar highlighted the precarious situation faced by these growers, emphasizing the collapse of the Remal agricultural system and the challenges encountered in horticulture. He pointed out that thousands of farmers across Tripura are grappling with financial instability due to these issues.

Kar presented a 13-point charter of demands to the Director of the Horticulture Department on behalf of the Betel Nut Growers Association, affiliated with the All India Krishak Sabha. These demands include easier access to loans, promotion of betel nut cultivation under government schemes, support for growers affected by natural disasters, establishment of a training and research center, facilitation of cooperative sales in Agartala, provision of free mustard shell fertilizer and pesticides, tax discounts, construction of greenhouses, and initiatives to expand betel nut cultivation. According to Kar, there are approximately 25,000 betel leaf and areca nut farmers in the state, all of whom face uncertainty due to government indifference. He stressed the urgent need for support, starting from access to essential resources like mustard seed shell manure.

Babul Debnath, the State Committee Secretary of the Betel Leaf and Areca Nut Farmers Association, echoed Kar’s concerns, emphasizing the need for inclusion in government welfare schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. Debnath also highlighted the lack of adequate storage facilities, citing the underutilization of the region’s largest cold store built during the Left Front government.