Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has said that the state government will set up areca nut processing plants in two districts in a bid to address the challenges faced by local growers.
Addressing a state-wide training and seminar on ‘Scientific Methods of Cultivation of Areca nut and Pest Management’ in Aizawl, Lalduhoma said the North Eastern Council (NEC) has sanctioned Rs 7.43 crore for establishing areca nut processing units at Chemphai in Kolasib district near Assam border and Zamuang in west Mizoram‘s Mamit district.
Expressing optimism, the chief minister said the facilities would create opportunities for marketing, add value to local produce, and alleviate the difficulties faced by farmers.
The chief minister said that illegal import of areca nuts from Myanmar has adversely affected local areca nut growers, who faced enormous challenges in selling their produce at reasonable prices.
He acknowledged that while his government has worked extensively to curb the smuggling of Burmese areca nuts, complete eradication of the practice remains a challenge.
“Significant progress has been made in curbing Burmese areca nut smuggling through the state government’s intensified efforts. Despite this, fully eliminating the illegal practice continues to be a challenge,” he said.
CM Lalduhoma said that the processing units would enable farmers to process dried and soaked areca nuts, produce compost from areca nut peels, and manufacture biodegradable plates from sheaths or leaves.
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Although the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, along with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), does not promote the expansion of areca nut cultivation, the Mizoram government has decided to allow interested farmers to grow the crop.
