BJP demands special package for areca growers

Mangalore Today News Network

Photos: Prashanth Nayak

Mangalore, Aug 30, 2013: Former deputy chief minister K.S. Eshwarappa has demanded a special package for areca growers who have incurred huge losses due to the Yellow leaf disease  that has affected the crops owing to  the incessant rain that lashed the  region for three months.

Addressing press persons at Hotel Saffron on August 30, Friday he said that the yellow disease has  spread to the areca tree roots destroying 50-60% of areca nuts and demanded a minimum compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre of land. He said areca growers were incurring loss upto Rs 75 per kg. He also urged CM Siddaramiah to undertake a detailed study of problems of areca growers and the losses suffered by them.

He also warned  that the BJP would take to the streets for the cause of areca growers if the government failed to respond to the demand by September 5.

Former CM DV Sadananda Gowda said that the proposal seeking compensation will be  forwarded to the Union  Government through CM Siddaramaiah. The Union Government will certainly announce compensation if the state government reciprocates in the right manner, he said.

He said the Yellow Leaf disease has affected the areca crops like a tsunami and urge the government to respond to the problems of the growers and win their trust.

B Nagaraj Shetty, convener of Dakshina Kannada district BJP election campaign committee, MP Nalin Kumar Katee and Sulochana G K Bhat were present at the press meet.