Areca trucks stopped by FDA in Maharashtra; traders meet MP in Shivamogga, seek help
Arecanut merchants from Shivamogga have appealed to Member of Parliament B.Y. Raghavendra to help them release the trucks carrying areca seized by Maharashtra’s Food and
Arecanut merchants from Shivamogga have appealed to Member of Parliament B.Y. Raghavendra to help them release the trucks carrying areca seized by Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration. Over 50 trucks carrying areca to the markets in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi have been stopped by the FDA in Beed, Nanded, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Dhule and Hingoli districts of Maharashtra.
The merchants, who met Mr. Raghavendra in Shivamogga on Friday, argued the seizure lacked legal basis as arecanut was only in transit through Maharashtra, and not being sold there. Moreover, arecanut is not a banned substance like gutkha, pan masala or zarda, and Maharashtra has no restrictions on it, they said. Raghavendra, acknowledging that arecanut cultivation is the backbone of agriculture in the region, assured the traders that the Central government would intervene and ensure the release of all trucks seized.
He also said that he would contact Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the issue. The delegation of traders also met former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who was in town on the day. Mr. Yediyurappa spoke to Union Minister of Consumer Affairs Prahlad Joshi over the phone, briefing him on the farmers’ distress and urging prompt intervention on the ground.
Mahesh Hulkuli, vice-president of the Arecanut Growers Association, MLC Dr. Dhananjai Sarji, office-bearers of Malnad Areca Marketing Cooperative Society were also present.
The BriefWire