Listing of areca nut as narcotics angers growers

Areca nut growers have expressed outrage over the government listing the areca nut in the drug and narcotics category on the government's new Krishi Maarata Vaahini website. The website was launched to help farmers to get the price of agricultural products online.

Shivamogga (Karnataka): Areca nut has a sacred place in Indian culture. It is customary to give areca nut and betel leaf during auspicious occasions. But now the Karnataka government website has listed it in the Drug and narcotics category which invoking outrage from the areca nut growers.

The government has launched a website called 'Krishi Maarata Vaahini' (Farm Sales Channel) to help farmers to get the price of agricultural products online. Daily farm retention is included in this website.

Whether mistakenly or otherwise the website lists areca nut in the drugs and narcotics category. The areca nut growers are expressing their outrage over the listing, saying that the government is going to destroy their livelihoods.