AIZAWL, March 29: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has expressed concern over the illegal import of ‘areca nut’ (betel nut) from Myanmar, which has significantly impacted local farmers, making it difficult for them to sell their produce at competitive prices.

Addressing a training-cum-seminar on ‘Scientific Methods of Cultivation of Areca Nut and Pest Management’, the Chief Minister highlighted the state’s commitment to tackling this issue. He stated that the government is actively working on corrective measures to support local cultivators.

To aid the farmers, Lalduhoma announced that Rs 7.43 crore has been sanctioned by the North Eastern Council (NEC) for the establishment of areca nut processing units at Chemphai and Zamuang. These units aim to enhance processing capabilities, create value-added products, and facilitate effective marketing of areca nuts.

Emphasizing the need for proper utilization of resources, the Chief Minister underscored that increased productivity would lead to significant economic benefits for farmers in Mizoram.

The training-cum-seminar was organised by the Mizoram government’s Land Resources, Soil and Water Conservation Department. Authorities such as the Assam Rifles and other law enforcement agencies frequently seize illegally traded areca nuts, also known as Burmese betel nuts, originating from Myanmar.

Recently, on March 21, a joint operation by Assam Rifles and Customs officials led to the seizure of a consignment of areca nuts valued at Rs 1.08 crore in Mizoram. According to a Defence spokesperson, the operation was based on specific intelligence inputs, resulting in the confiscation of 180 bags of areca nuts at Zote in the Champhai district. This region, which shares an unfenced border with Myanmar, has become a hotspot for the smuggling of various contraband items, including drugs, foreign cigarettes, arms and ammunition, exotic animals, and areca nuts.

The large-scale smuggling of areca nuts from Myanmar is not only affecting Mizoram’s farmers but also impacting cultivators in Assam and Tripura, where betel nut farming is a significant agricultural activity. In response to the influx of illegal areca nuts, the Assam government imposed restrictions on the transportation of the product, which has affected the movement of areca nuts from Tripura to other parts of India.

With the intervention of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, the impasse concerning the transportation of areca nuts from Tripura to Assam was partially resolved. Saha had also taken up the issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking a smooth trade route for Tripura-grown areca nuts through Assam.

In August last year, during a ministerial-level meeting between Assam and Mizoram regarding the inter-state border dispute, both states reaffirmed their commitment to enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against the transportation of smuggled areca nuts from Myanmar.