Mizoram CM credits crackdown on areca nut smuggling for price surge
Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Monday said that the crackdown on areca nut smuggling from Myanmar has significantly boosted areca nut prices in the state.
He attributed the development to the hard work and dedication of the police, district officials, and civil society organisations.
Lalduhoma said his government has been making massive efforts to curb the smuggling of areca nuts and drugs from Myanmar since it assumed power in December 2023.
"We have taken robust measures to check smuggling activities across the border. Mizoram witnessed the most profitable year in terms of areca nut prices this year. Our police, magistrates, and NGOs will be very happy to learn the outcome of their hard work," Lalduhoma said while addressing the areca nut festival at Rengdil in north-western Mizoram's Mamit district.
The Chief Minister said that farmers grow areca nut on 30,000 hectares across Mizoram and harvested about 2 lakh quintals last year. He added that authorities have yet to ascertain the total harvest for the current year.
He said that areca nut significantly boosts the state’s economy when proper markets are available.
Lalduhoma said the state government is encouraging farmers to expand areca nut cultivation because it yields good profits, even though the Centre discourages it. He added that the government supports areca nut cultivation through the loan component and the CM Special Packages under the state’s flagship Handholding Scheme.
The Chief Minister said the government has established an areca nut processing unit at Buhchangphai in Kolasib district near the Assam border to facilitate market access and boost farmers’ incomes.
He said that the processing unit will open soon.
The Chief Minister added that the government is setting up two more areca nut processing units at Zamuang in Mamit district and Chemphai in Kolasib district, investing Rs 7.43 crore under the North Eastern Council (NEC).
He also stated that the administration will construct a 170-km network of link roads across the state to connect areca nut, rubber, and broomstick cultivation areas.
He further said the project has received a total of Rs 27.66 crore from NABARD and the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme.
According to officials, areca nut growers in the Hachhek area of Mamit district, bordering Tripura and Bangladesh, have so far harvested fresh areca nuts worth over Rs 50 crore this year, and the highest-earning family has made Rs 40 lakh from this year's harvest.
They said the total harvest is expected to increase further as the harvesting season is still ongoing.