MP Chowta meets Union minister seeking revision of areca moisture norms

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, on Wednesday, met Union minister of food processing industries Chirag Paswan to raise a critical issue affecting arecanut farmers across coastal Karnataka, particularly in Mangaluru and surrounding regions.During the meeting, Capt Chowta highlighted the challenges arising from the current moisture content norms prescribed under FSSAI regulations, which fix the permissible limit for arecanut at 7%. He pointed out that under prevailing field conditions, especially in humid and coastal regions, arecanut is predominantly sun-dried, making it extremely difficult for farmers to achieve moisture levels below 11%. Emphasising the importance of arecanut cultivation to the agrarian economy of Dakshina Kannada, he noted that a large number of small and marginal farmers, along with cooperatives and traders, depend on this crop for their livelihoods. However, the current stringent norms have led to widespread rejection or downgrading of produce, resulting in significant financial losses for the farmers.Capt Chowta also raised concerns regarding the lack of uniform moisture testing mechanisms across mandis, which often leads to arbitrary assessments and price exploitation. He further highlighted that the classification of arecanut under ‘fruits and nuts' appears technically misaligned, given its low fat content and closer similarity to commodities like pulses and cereals, where higher moisture limits are permitted.During the meeting, Capt Chowta proposed a set of solutions and requested the Union minister to revise the permissible moisture content for arecanut to around 11%, in line with comparable agricultural commodities, reassess its classification under a more appropriate commodity category, introduce standardised moisture testing protocols across markets to ensure uniformity and transparency, and support farmers with improved post-harvest infrastructure, including drying and storage facilities.He stressed that a balanced and scientifically aligned revision would not only safeguard farmer incomes but also ensure quality consistency, reduce disputes, and strengthen the overall arecanut value chain.The Union minister assured that the concerns would be examined in detail.