Areca growers in DK opt for solar tarpaulins as rain pounds fields

By Ganesh Mavanji | NT

Mangaluru: A recanut growers in Dakshina Kannada district are increasingly opting for solar tar  paulins to dry their produce following the unseasonal rains in the state which has made it difficult for them to dry the nuts.

Usually the rain stops in September and is followed by rising temperatures in the region. This year, it has been raining even in Novem ber and the growers are find ing it difficult to dry their crops. Arecanut fetches a good price only if it is dried well and so farmers have no option but to opt for solar tarpaulin.

These tarpaulins are available in the market in different sizes and prices and farmers need to spend over Rs 50,000 to install them properly. Farmers who use material available locally, do not have to spend such huge amounts But these tarpau lins do not last long. If the horticulture or agricul ture department comes forward to help arecanut growers with a proper scheme to install the so lar tarpaulin, it would be useful to farmers, said sources.

Though the horticulture department does have a scheme to provide solar dryers, it is not of much help to farmers who have to spend several lakh rupees. Farmers in Dak shina Kannada district are demanding that the government assist them in install ing solar tarpaulins by pro viding 80 percent subsidy.

Ananda Adpangaya, an arecanut grower from Sullia taluk said: “As the yel low leaf disease led to heavy losses to growers, our in come has been dipping year after year. Due to incessant rain this year, our crops are not getting dried. Hence, the horticulture department should help us by providing solar tarpaulin subsidy, “ he urged.

H. R Nayak, DK district Deputy Director, Horticul ture Department when con tacted, informed that the department has been pro viding solar dryers to farm ers with 50% subsidy. “We have given a proposal to the government to provide small solar dryers which are less costly. If the government al lows this, it will help arecanut growers of the district,” he said.