Risk of Areca Nut Crop Damage Due to Pest and Disease Outbreaks in Karnataka

10-Jun-2026 05:45 PM

Mangaluru: Extensive areca nut plantations exist in the Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, and Kodagu districts of Karnataka; however, there is a significant risk of crop damage due to outbreaks of Leaf Spot disease and Yellow Leaf disease.

The Member of Parliament (MP) from Dakshina Kannada has urged the Union Agriculture Minister to take immediate, concrete precautionary measures to protect the plantations from these diseases. Areca nut crops frequently suffer damage from Leaf Spot Disease (LSD) and Yellow Leaf Disease (YLD).

In a memorandum submitted to the Agriculture Minister, the MP stated that a severe outbreak of both these diseases is being observed in areca nut plantations across almost all major producing districts of Karnataka, threatening both yield and quality.

Areca nut cultivation is the primary source of livelihood for lakhs of growers in these districts, and a sharp decline in production would exacerbate the farmers' hardships.

Although the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI)—under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research—has developed scientific management protocols that provide an excellent roadmap for controlling and managing these diseases,

proper implementation at the plantation level is hindered by financial constraints. Karnataka is the leading producer of areca nut, with large-scale cultivation taking place in the state; Kerala also produces significant quantities of the crop.