MANGALORE: The five-day bandh, including three days of curfew, and violent incidents in the city have affected arecanut trading in Mangalore, a major supplier of white arecanut (Mangalore chali) to north India.

According to sources in the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative Limited (CAMPCO), at least 30 truckloads of white arecanut get transported to north India from Mangalore every day. In the past eight days at least 250 truckloads of arecanut (25,000 quintals) worth Rs. 25 crore could not be transported outside the city. According to sources in the South Kanara Agriculturists' Cooperative Marketing Society (SKACMS), trading took place only on October 3. Cooperative socities and private traders participate in the arecanut auction conducted by SKACMS. The price of white arecanut in the country is determined based on the price quoted in the auction at SKACMS, sources said.

CAMPCO, SKACMS and Mangalore Agriculturists' Sahakari Sangha (MASS) have their arecanut procurement centres in places outside Mangalore city. These centres procured arecanut from farmers as usual. The bandh did not affect the procurement in its centres, sources said.

Short supply

Bandh in Mangalore resulted in the short supply of arecanut to north India. But it may not result in increase in the prices of arecanut. This was because the arecanut was directly transported from the procurement centres in Sullia, Puttur, Belthangady, Kasargod (Kerala) and so on, to north India.

"However, the prices will not come down," sources said. At present the price of new arecanut in the market hovered between Rs. 85 and Rs. 90 a kg and the price of old arecanut stood between Rs. 95 and Rs. 100 a kg.

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