Growers in a tizzy as disease ravages arecanut plantations

MISFORTUNE is haunting arecanut growers as their crops have been damaged due to fruit rot disease (Kole Roga), caused by heavy rainfall.

- DIVYA CUTINHO @Mangaluru

The disease is also known as 'Mahali' and the pathogen 'Phytophthora meadii' is the root cause of this disease.

Across the state, 1,49,500 people are engaged in arecanut production and areca palm is cultivated in over 90,000 hectares in Dakshina Kannada. Areca nut is also called Betel Nut or Supari and is the fruit of the areca palm.