Seeking redress of their grievances, betel vine growers and traders from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar and Rajasthan are meeting Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi at New Delhi tomorrow.
This would be their second meeting with Gandhi in a short span with the last meeting taking place on December 1, wherein the farmers had apprised Gandhi with the deteriorating economic conditions of betel vine growers.
The farmers are concerned about the falling acreage and trade of betel vine due to the prevalence of pan masala/gutkha in the country, which is directly affecting their livelihood.
According to estimates, betel vineyard are spread over 1,000 acres in UP, much lower than 6,000 odd acres earlier. The annual betel leaf trade in UP is believed to be around Rs 100 crore.
“We are meeting Rahul Gandhi for the second time with our set of demands,” Akhil Bharatiya Chaurasiya Mahasabha (Regional chapter), Uttar Pradesh general secretary Chhotelal Chaur-asiya told Business Stan-dard here.
Although, betel has the status of agriculture, its stakeholders are not covered under any central or state government schemes. The farmers demand a separate package for betel cultivation.
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“We want the Betel Research centres at Mahoba and Lucknow be re-energised,” he added.
The community has also demanded adequate representation in Parliament, state Assemblies and other important posts.
Betel farmers have been demanding a national level agricultural/horticultural policy for betel to provide easy availability of loans, fertiliser and other farm inputs.