Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Monday claimed that the crackdown on smuggling of areca nuts to the state has triggered a steep rise in the prices of the edible item. The Chief Minister also said that coordinated action by police, district officials and civil society groups since his government took office in December 2023 had shown clear results. “Mizoram has witnessed its most profitable year in terms of areca nut prices. Our police, administration and NGOs will be happy to know about the dividends of their hard work,” the Chief Minister said at an areca nut festival in Rengtei in Mamit district.
“Areca nut was cultivated across about 30,000 hectares last year, yielding nearly 2 lakh quintals. Although the figures for the current harvest season are yet to be finalised, the returns are expected to be strong,” he said. Lalduhoma said the state government has laid significant emphasis on expanding areca nut plantation as market linkages improve. “Areca nut contributes significantly to the state’s economy and will continue to give us profits if smuggling remains under check. The administration has also encouraged plantation expansion as crop yields have improved,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said that areca nut cultivators are eligible for both state loans and the special package introduced under the flagship Handholding Scheme.“We have also set up an areca nut processing plant in Buhchangphai in Kolasib district, near the Assam border, aimed at boosting marketability and improving farmers’ income. The unit is expected to be operational soon,” he said. Besides, Lalduhoma informed that two additional processing centres are being developed at Zawmang in Mamit and Chempai in Kolasib at a cost of Rs 7.43 crore with funds provided by the North Eastern Council.
“The government will also construct 170 kilometres of link roads across different districts to connect plantation belts, rubber areas and broomstick cultivation zones,” the Chief Minister said. It may be noted that NABARD has sanction Rs 7.26 crore to Mizoram while proposals have been submitted by the state to the States for Capital Investment (SACI) scheme seeking more project funds. Officials informed that areca nuts from parts of Mamit, bordering Tripura and Bangladesh, are selling at over Rs 50 per kilogram in the ongoing harvest season.
