Karnataka Arecanut growers seek curb on imports to boost local production

Bengaluru, Aug 17 (KNN) The Karnataka arecanut growers have appealed to the centre to curb the imports of arecanut from neighbouring countries to safeguard the interest of nut growers from Karnataka.

A delegation led by Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra is expected to meet Union Ministers, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman,on Aug 17-18 in Delhi regarding the curb on imports and reduction in currently applied 5 percent GST on arecanut.

“The delegation would urge the Centre to hike import duty on arecanut to safeguard the interests of growers in Karnataka. The crop is largely grown in Malnad and coastal districts of the State,” said Jnanendra during an interaction with the reporters.

To discuss other issues pertaining to arecanut, the delegation is also expected to meet Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Thomar and Minister of State for Agriculture Shobha Karandlaje.

MLA Hartala Halappa, former MLA D.N. Jeevaraj, Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Ltd. (CAMPCO) president Kishor Kumar Kodgi, and other senior officials of CAMPCO are part of the delegation.  (KNN Bureau)