📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Irrigator
Agriculture
Karnataka Arecanut Yield Falls 37% Amid Growing Cultivation Area
✍️ The New Indian Express
🗓 05 Aug 2026, 04:35 PM
👁 29
Karnataka's arecanut production fell by almost 37% last year, even as the state saw a sharp rise in the area under cultivation.
Karnataka’s arecanut yield dropped by nearly 37% during the 2023‑24 cropping season, according to the latest figures released by the state’s Department of Agriculture. The decline came despite a sharp expansion in the area sown, which has grown significantly over recent years.
Arecanut, also known as betel nut, is a major cash crop for Karnataka’s rural economy, especially in districts such as Belgaum, Chikmagalur and Dakshina Kannada. The fall in productivity raises concerns about farmers’ incomes and the state’s export prospects.
The state government has announced that it will investigate the causes of the decline and provide support to affected growers, including potential subsidies and research into resilient varieties.
Arecanut, also known as betel nut, is a major cash crop for Karnataka’s rural economy, especially in districts such as Belgaum, Chikmagalur and Dakshina Kannada. The fall in productivity raises concerns about farmers’ incomes and the state’s export prospects.
The state government has announced that it will investigate the causes of the decline and provide support to affected growers, including potential subsidies and research into resilient varieties.