Source– This post on Arecanut has been created based on the article “Tirthahalli areca emerges best variety among nuts grown in Karnataka” published in “The Hindu” on 4 May 2024.
Why in the news?
The arecanut grown in the Tirthahalli region has found to be the highest quality among all the varieties grown in Karnataka.
About Arecanut
Description– It is usually referred to as Areca palm, yellow palm, butterfly palm etc.The arecanut palm is the source of a common chewing nut, popularly known as betel nut or Supari.
Production– India is the largest producer as well as consumer of arecanut.
Major producing states– Karnataka (40%), Kerala (25%), Assam (20%), Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya and West Bengal.
Grading– Arecanut kernels are boiled, and then areca precipitates are added after removing the husk. Afterwards, the nuts are dried and sorted into different grades like Nuli, Hasa, Rashi, Bette, and Gorabalu based on their market worth.
What are the favourable agroclimatic conditions for growing Arecanut ?
1) Climate– It is mostly confined to 28º north and south of the equator. It grows well within the temperature range of 14ºC and 36ºC . It is adversely affected by temperatures below 10ºC and above 40ºC.
2) Soil– The largest area under the crop is found in gravelly laterite soils of red clay type. It can also be grown on fertile clay loam soils.
Sticky clay, sandy, alluvial, brackish and calcareous soils are not suitable for arecanut cultivation.
3) Ideal rainfall – 750 mm to 4500 mm/ Irrigation
4) Season–June – December is found to be the optimum.
Read more-Arecanut gets its first GI tag for ‘Sirsi Supari’
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