Betel Vine Essay

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Betel vine in India is grown as an important cash crop across the states, of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The Indian betel leaves (or ‘Paan’) are in great demand in several countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma and Thailand where demand far exceeds the local supply. Consequently, leaves worth about ₹ 30-40 million are exported to European countries (Guha,06). It is an opportunity for the Indian betel vine growers as well as seller to earn more profit not only within the country but alaso to European countries. Further, as far as the national employment generation is concerned, about 20 million people derive …show more content…

Betel vine cultivation in Sundarbans has its overall and holistic socio-economic impact on the farming community. The region otherwise is characterized with multi-faceted problems such as low crop productivity due to inherent problem of soil & water salinity and hence low returns. Farmers depend on natural sources completely and are able to cultivate only a single crop during the rainy season that is they are bound to mono-cropping (Mandal et al 2013). It is the most important cash crop and its cultivation has already brought a perceptible and conspicuous change in the livelihood security of farmers in Sundarbanregion and its farming population. Farmers are selling their produce at local markets as well as atdistant markets like in Midnapore district or in other markets (Chandra &Sagar, 2004). However, the betel vine is susceptible to damage caused by insects, rain and wind. Shortage of irrigation can also cause hindrance for the growth of betel vine.High cost of fertilizer & pesticide, fluctuating price, many intermediaries, inadequacy of finance, transport, absence of grading, lack of storage facility also cause of great loss to farmers. Although profitable, but many farmers were switching over to other crops from betel vine due to lack of money/credit facilities and also high price uncertainty in the local market (Absar 2015). ‘Paan’ …show more content…

Table 2.Land particulars under betel vine cultivation in study area
Sl no Particulars Quantity (no/ value)
A Area under betel vine cultivation (ha) 0.05
B Land ownership (betel vine) ownership (%) 100
C Irrigation availability (%) 100
D Sources of irrigation a Own (%) 86 b Other (%) 14
E Soil type Clay (%) 100
F Soil characteristic Saline (%) 100
G Land type under betel vine* High land (%) 100
H Variety cultivated a Meetha (%) 95.83 b Bangla (%) 4.17 Note: Highland means no waterlogging throughout the year
Initial cost of ‘baroj’ construction
Construction of baroj with thatches was essential for betel vine cultivation and required substantial amount of initial investment (Table 3).Soil

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