The Central Arecanut & Cocoa Marketing & Processing Cooperative Limited (CAMPCO) has appealed to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to commission detailed scientific research into the safety and potential anti-carcinogenic properties of arecanut in its natural form. CAMPCO has also requested that the government allocate funds for this research in the upcoming budget.
In a letter to the minister, CAMPCO President A. Kishore Kumar Kodgi stressed that arecanut cultivation supports the livelihoods of millions of Indian farmers. India cultivates arecanut on approximately 9.55 lakh hectares, producing around 17–18 lakh metric tonnes annually. Kodgi highlighted the economic and cultural significance of the sector, pointing out that CAMPCO alone has contributed over Rs 650 crores in GST since its introduction.
The World Health Organization’s classification of arecanut as a carcinogen has raised concern among farmers. However, CAMPCO argued that this classification primarily stems from studies on harmful mixtures like gutka and betel quid, which contain additives such as tobacco, rather than pure arecanut. To counter this, CAMPCO referred to studies by institutions like the Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore), Emory University (USA), and Taipei Medical University Hospital (Taiwan), which have shown that arecanut extracts may have tumor-suppressing properties without damaging healthy cells.
CAMPCO proposed that renowned institutions like ICMR, ICAR, AIIMS, and the Indian Institute of Science conduct this research to assess arecanut’s health properties. Kodgi expressed hope that the government would prioritize funding for this important research, which would benefit both the agricultural community and scientific advancement.
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