Bengaluru: Arecanuts have been a very significant crop for traditional growers for ages, especially in regions like Sagar in Shivamogga district and adjoining Coastal and Malnad areas in the state of Karnataka. Earlier the farmers' economic condition is also solely dependent on the fluctuating prices of the commercial crop.
Arecanut prices collapsed to rock bottom in 1971-72: However, according to Mattikoppa Haranaath Rao, a cherished and well-respected tall personality of Sagar recalls-"The price of Arecanut suddenly dipped from Rs 600/- per quintal to Rs 200/- during 1971-72 and thereby leading to a panic situation. The total fall of Arecanut prices led to an adverse situation to such an extent that even leading a normal life became too difficult. For us crops meant only Arecanut plantations and almost all of them were small and marginal cultivators with land holdings extending from 1-2-3 acres to five acres at the most...
...LT Thimmappa Hegade shows the way: We were in a never-like hopeless condition, all worried and perplexed not knowing what to do as a result of the unbelievably low prices. Fortunately for us, we had a leader L T Thimmappa Hegde, under whose leadership the Arecanut Farmers' Association came into being at Sagar. Then we travelled extensively in the areca nut-growing areas of the state and finally met Varanasi Subraya Bhat, then President of the area nut growers of the state as well as the All India President of the area nut planters in Mangaluru", informed Mattikoppa Haranaath Rao.
Arecanut growers come under one platform: The octogenarian Mattikoppa Haranaath Rao gave graphic details of the 55-year-old area nut growers' ordeal as if it had happened just a few days ago! He stated in a simple, rustic style-"Varanasi Subraya Bhat was also terrifically worried and after enough prolonged discussions it was decided to unite under the banner of one organization for the whole state. Likewise, a massive conference of areca nut growers was held in Sagara...
...Initiative of KH Patil: Thanks to Krishnagouda Hanumanthgouda Patil, the then minister of the cooperation Department and his forethought in the overall interests of the areca nut growers' a big convention was held in Sagara and it was attended by the growers of Karnataka and Kerala. Even MLAs', Ministers and officials of both states took part in the conference. The gathering took a unanimous decision to form an organization involving both, farmers from Karnataka and Kerala as per the advice of KH Patil. The reason was just like Karnataka, Kerala also recorded the same quantum of areca nut production annually".
All India tour to study the areca nut market situation: Again at the instance of KH Patil it was resolved to conduct a study tour to assess the areca nut market situation all over the country. In this way, says Mattikoppa Haranaath Rao-"A delegation of areca planters under the leadership of Varanasi Subraya Bhat toured the country to have an understanding of the marketplaces for areca nut. BR Kamath, Betta Ishwar Bhat and myself from the Sagara region comprised the study team. We travelled across the country for 30 days in a car visiting several places and making a thorough assessment of the market situation...
...Ultimately landing in Bombay: Thanks to the study, one thing was confirmed irrespective of the areca nut growing regions all over the country, the produce reached Bombay for marketing wherein around 20 merchants controlled the business. It was their whims and fancies which dominated the sales and prices and the purchased goods were later sold to the remaining markets of the country...
...Report submitted to the government: Following our study tour and the findings we submitted a report to the state government recommending a marketing system avoiding the middleman and greater participation of the growers. Then another convention of Kerala and Karnataka areca nut growers was held in Kasargodu. Kerala Minister and Karnataka Minister KH Patil took part in the conference and advised forming a growers organization to cater to the marketing needs. They also named the new commercial venture the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (CAMPCO) for the marketing purpose of areca nut...
...One crore from the state government: KH Patil went all out to come to the rescue of the areca nut growers and gave Rs One crore on behalf of the state government to form CAMPCO. Likewise, the Kerala state government gave Rs One crore, Karnataka Apex Cooperative Bank gave Rs One crore, Kerala Apex Cooperative Bank gave One crore, and all District Central Cooperative(DCC) banks of the area nut growing districts gave Rs One crore. Areca nut growers from both the states contributed Rs Two crores each. In this way, Karnataka and Kerala contributed Rs Five crores each and thereby CAMPCO first came into being at Mangaluru. CAMPCO began its illustrious innings under the able stewardship of Varanasi Subraya Bhat, as its first President...
...Areca nut growers are ever revered to KH Patil: We keep wondering whether KH Patil became a minister only to end our miseries and uplift the lives of all areca nut growers. He took a lot of initiatives, despite being unconnected to the area nut-growing areas and areca farmers. Had he not been there, I don't think we the area nut growers could have survived the onslaught of the total collapse of the prices. The CAMPCO came into being only because KH Patil happened to be at our side and solidly stood like a rock mountain to ensure our safety...
...Thanks to MSP; Areca nut prices stabilized: Today the price of areca nut has gone up to Rs 50,000. It is mainly due to the foresighted efforts of KH Patil that we are enjoying the benefits. Even after escaping the Rs 200/- rate tragedy areca nut prices kept oscillating in between and once it went down from Rs 10,000/- to Rs 4,000/-. Again, thanks to HK Patil, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister and son of KH Patil and Kagodu Thimmappa together announced the minimum support price(MSP) for areca nut...
...HK Patil has created a history: Areca nut is not a food crop and MSP is announced for foodgrain crops only. Fortunately for the areca nut growers, they declared MSP for areca nut and hence the MSP for the Chali variety is Rs 6,000/- and Rs 8,000/- for Kempadike or Red coloured type. These MSP rates continue to date though they are flexible and in a way, HK Patil has created a history by including areca nut into the MSP loop. So, whichever way you look at we are ever indebted to HK Patil for continuing the legacy of helping out the areca nut growers". signed off Mattikoppa Haranaath Rao.
-Manohar Yadavatti
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