Adulteration mafia hits areca nut trade in Shivamogga

SHIVAMOGGA: Four truckloads of areca nut dispatched from Shivamogga were returned to the APMC yard from Gujarat on Monday, after they failed in quality tests, leading to concern among traders. Shivamogga APMC is the second highest areca exporter in the state but is plagued by the adulteration mafia.
The whole mafia revolves around merchants. The total annual turnover of areca nut business in Shivamogga is over Rs 200 crore.Merchants from Gujarath and Rajasthan are regular customers. However, a big mafia is allegedly involved in mixing lower grade areca nuts with good quality produce.
Speaking to TOI, APMC president KP Duggappa Gowda said, “Purchases made online from unregistered dealers is a major problem. All traders must come under the purview of the APMC so that we can monitor all aspects of the trade. I have checked the returned shipments. They belong to a Mangaluru-based merchandise company. The traders have purchased lower grade areca from West Bengal, Assam and Sri Lanka and have mixed it with good quality areca nuts.”
Restriction on imports of areca nut from other states and amendment to the APMC Act will address the problem, he added.
“Many merchants have private stockyards on the outskirts of Shivamogga. They are using chemicals to colour areca nuts in yards. We are unable to control the mafia. After verifying the trucks I got threat calls too. The value of a single truckload weighing 20,000 kg of areca nuts is Rs 80 lakh. But they are showing only Rs 40 lakh in the receipt,” he said.
APMC member Shivakumar Abbalagere said, “In Shivamogga 60% of farmers grow areca nut. This region has known for its quality. We use natural ingredients for colouring but those engaged in adulteration and malpractice are using chemicals. When demand rises prices of areca nut will also rise, thereby benefiting poor farmers. But some influential people involved in this business are hand in glove with merchants in other states are ruining the prospects of growers.”