How Areca Nut Imports Affect India’s Local Growers and Market; The Rural Mirror Special Article
Puttur, June 30, 2025: India’s been importing areca nuts for ages, mostly to keep up with local demand. Every year, when there’s a whiff of shortage or prices shoot up (usually between October and January), import numbers jump. Back in 1938-39? Imports hit a staggering 95,300 tons. Since then, govt rules tightened, and those numbers dropped—until 1994, when trade policies loosened up and imports crept up again. By 2022-23, India brought in nearly 26,000 tons. Most of these nuts come from places like Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Myanmar, Bhutan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, and they show up in all sorts of forms—fresh, dried (chali), roasted, whole, you name it. But here’s the kicker: imported areca nuts usually aren’t as good as the local stuff, which is a sore spot for Indian growers. To protect domestic producers, the government slapped on a 100% import duty, set a minimum import price at ₹351 per kilo, and checks quality on arrival. There are exceptions though—special rules for Bhutan, plus trade agreements with ASEAN, SAFTA, and Sri Lanka mean some imports still get through, but under tighter control. India’s areca nut market is a balancing act between meeting demand and protecting local farmers, with government policy at the heart of the action.
This summary is based on insights from the article by Dr. Vigneshwara Bhat Varmudi in The Rural Mirror, which highlights the historical and ongoing impact of areca nut imports on India’s market dynamics. The article details import trends, quantities, sources, and government policies aimed at balancing domestic production and market stability. For more details, visit: https://theruralmirror.com/impact-of-areca-nut-import-on-india/