File picture of arecanut fruit | Photo Credit: Govarthan M

The Member of Parliament from Dakshina Kannada, Captain Brijesh Chowta has urged the Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, to initiate urgent measures to address the growing threat posed by leaf spot disease (LSD) and yellow leaf disease (YLD) in arecanut plantations.

In representations submitted to the Minister, Capt Chowta said these diseases have adversely impacted arecanut plantations in Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu and other arecanut-growing regions of Karnataka.

He said LSD has caused extensive damage to plantations and has become a major concern for lakhs of farmers dependent on arecanut cultivation. While scientific management protocols developed by ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) have provided a roadmap for disease management, implementation at the field level continues to face financial constraints.

He said the Union Government had earlier sanctioned ₹225 crore under a 60:40 funding formula based on a detailed project report prepared by experts. However, the assistance could not be effectively utilised due to expenditure ceilings prescribed under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), which do not adequately reflect the actual cost of disease management recommended by CPCRI.

Capt Chowta requested the Centre to provide a specific exemption from existing MIDH expenditure limits for LSD management and align financial assistance with the actual scientific cost of treatment. He emphasised that such intervention is essential for the successful implementation of disease-control measures and for protecting the livelihoods of arecanut-growing communities.

He said YLD is a long-standing phytoplasma-associated disease affecting nearly 16,000 hectares of arecanut plantations in Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada and parts of Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru districts. The disease causes progressive decline in palm health and productivity, severely affecting farm incomes.

Stating that there is no curative treatment for YLD, he stressed the importance of supporting the management protocols developed by ICAR-CPCRI.

He said the large-scale adoption of these technologies, along with high-tech irrigation systems and balanced nutrient management practices, would require substantial institutional and financial support. He urged the Union Government to formulate a comprehensive support package to assist affected farmers and facilitate wider implementation of proven management strategies.

Capt Chowta invited Chouhan to visit Mangaluru and interact with scientists, agricultural experts and affected farmers to gain first-hand understanding of the challenges on the ground.

Published on June 10, 2026