NEWS – Tirthahalli Areca Emerges as Best Variety in Karnataka

HIGHLIGHTS

Areca Research Analysis

• Conducted by Areca Research Centre at Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences in Shivamogga.
• Comparative analysis among different areca varieties grown in Karnataka.

Tirthahalli Variety

• Identified as the best quality areca based on the analysis.
• Analysis involved a diverse group including consumers, traders, research scholars, scientists, and growers.
• Participants assessed various aspects like appearance, taste, aroma, etc., of different areca varieties.

Growers’ Opinion

• Opinions of 80 Tirthahalli variety farmers were taken into account.
• Farmers highlighted the quality of their produce and suitability for high-grade arecanuts.

Grading and Market Value

• After processing, arecanuts are graded into categories like Nuli, Hasa, Rashi, Bette, and Gorabalu.
• Nuli and Hasa nuts fetch higher prices in the market compared to Rashi, Bette, Gorabalu.
• As of April 29, Hasa nuts were sold at an average price of ₹69,600 per quintal.

Chemical Analysis

• Chemical analysis showed medium arecoline content in Thirthahalli arecanuts.
• Though chemical differences were minimal, Tirthahalli variety stood out in overall quality assessment.

ARECANUT CULTIVATION

Source and Popular Use

• The arecanut palm is the primary source of the betel nut or supari, widely chewed in India.
• It’s a significant commercial crop in the country.

Climatic Conditions

• Latitude: Primarily grown between 28º north and south of the equator.
• Temperature: Thrives between 14ºC and 36ºC.
• Soil: Prefers gravelly laterite soils of the red clay type, but also suitable for fertile clay loam soils.
  • Unsuitable for sticky clay, sandy, alluvial, brackish, and calcareous soils.
• Rainfall: Suitable in areas with around 750 mm of annual rainfall.
• Altitude: Can be cultivated up to 1000 m above mean sea level.

India’s Role

• Production: India is the largest producer of arecanut globally.
• Consumption: It’s also the largest consumer of arecanut.

Major Cultivating States

• Karnataka: Leading producer with around 40% of the cultivation.
• Kerala: Significant contributor with about 25% of the cultivation.
• Other States: Assam (20%), Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, and West Bengal also cultivate arecanut.