MUSHALPUR, July 12 � Betel nut is one of the major agricultural produces in the agriculturally rich Baksa district. The northern belt of the district is particularly known for its high quality betel nut. The large quantity of betel nut production in those areas can be attributed to the sandy and rocky topography along the Indo-Bhutan border areas. Almost every land owner in Nikashi, Thamna, Mushalpur, Simla, Barama, Tamulpur, Kumarikata, Baganpara, Barimakha, Adalbari, Pakhamara, Debachara, Subankhata and surrounding areas own betel nut groves.
Almost everyday 50 to 60 trucks of betel nuts go out of these areas. But, due to poor economic condition, the small scale betel nut growers are compelled to sell off their produce at very low price while the bigger betel nut growers have also to sell their produces at low cost because of the lack of a local market and high transportation cost.
Moreover, the poor betel nut growers sell off their groves on the assumption of the yield when the betel nut trees are in bloom. Though a number of unemployed youths have set up supari industry (dried betel nut) in Baksa, they are under constant pressure due to fluctuation of price as the market is controlled by traders from outside like West Bengal. If the road communication as well as storage system is developed, betel nut industry can boost the economic condition of the farmers as well as the local traders.
