Which of the following is the major betel nut-producing states in India?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) Karnataka

Explanation:

• Karnataka is the leading producer of betel nut (also known as Areca nut) in India, accounting for approximately 40% to 50% of the country’s total production.

• Within Karnataka, the major cultivation areas are in the districts of Shimoga, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, and Chikmagalur, which provide the ideal humid tropical climate and laterite soil.

• India is the largest producer and consumer of areca nut in the world.

• The crop is primarily grown in the coastal and Western Ghats regions where rainfall is high and temperatures are moderate.

Information Booster:

• The Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative (CAMPCO), headquartered in Mangaluru, Karnataka, plays a vital role in the procurement and marketing of the nut for farmers.

• Areca nut is often chewed with betel leaf (paan) and is also used in religious ceremonies and traditional Ayurvedic medicine.

Additional Knowledge:

Kerala (Option a)

• Kerala is the second-largest producer of areca nut in India. While it is a major producer, its output is significantly lower than that of Karnataka.

West Bengal (Option b)

• West Bengal is among the top five producers in India, particularly in the northern districts like Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar, but it does not lead the nation in production.

Manipur (Option c)

• While areca nut is grown and widely consumed in North-Eastern states like Assam (which is the third-largest producer) and Manipur, the scale of production in Manipur is much smaller compared to the southern states.