However, the state, which is one among the three states in the country cultivating arecanut, has not benefited from the stable prices largely due to cultivation of lesser quality arecanut and certain diseases that have caused decline in productivity.

Arecanut prices at Rs 7500 a quintal (Rs 75 per kg) has more or less remained stable over the last few months. But certain varieties of arecanut could command a price of Rs 100 per kg or above at Nagpur which is one of largest market for arecanuts, scientists said. Prime among these high value generating varieties is `Mora' which commands a price of Rs 100 per kg. Other varieties in the series include `Motti', `Vacharas' which could sell at Rs 80 per kg in the Nagpur market, a source said.

However, Kerala farmers have been cultivating `jam' and `jeeni' varieties which could fetch a price of only Rs 75per kg in the national market, the source added. Apart from Kerala, arecanut is grown in Karnataka and Assam.

The production of arecanuts in Kerala, which had shown an upward trend during 1995-96 at 17,429 tonnes compared with 13,116 tonnes during 1991-92, dropped to 15464 tonnes during 1996-97. The Department of Economics and Statistics is yet to release the final figures for the 1997-98 financial year. The productivity of the crop also has declined from 229999 kg per hectare to 212420 kg per hectare, according to official estimates.

The farmers have to follow scientific management practices in order to increase productivity and yield in their farms, scientists said. Some areas in the state are suffering from magnesium and pottasium deficiency in the soil. Magnesium deficiency could result in yellowing of top part of the palm while pottasium deficiency could result in the breakage of the nut before it is ripe, scientists added. An analysis by scientists at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute(CPCRI) at Kasargod district has also revealed that high yielding varieties of arecanut responded positively to use of higher quantity of fertilisers over a period of five years.

Research by CPCRI in Karnatak also revealed that high yielding varieties such as Mangala gave over 23 per cent increased ripe nut yield over conventional varieties in Herehalli and 36 per cent more in Thirthahalli, CPCRI scientists said. Other high yielding varieties in the series include `Sumangala' and `Sreemangala'. Different hybrid varieties were created out of crossing local and high-yielding varieties, the scientists added.

Phytopthera Famivora, a pest causing damage to the top of the coconut palms is also responsible for destroying arecanut palms in some places, scientists said. Bordo mixture has to been applied wherever there is incidence of the pest since arecanut is being cultivated as an inter-crop along with coconut.

It is always better to apply bordo mixture as a precaution as the pest could spread fromneighbouring coconut trees, scientists added.