Arecanut farmers in Northeastern states facing problem of transportation of their produce

Assam has lunched crackdown on the illicit trade of arecanut from Myanmar. The representatives of the Mizoram Church Leaders Committee on Monday discussed the arecanut transportation issue with Union Minister of state for Minority Affairs John Barla, in Aizawl.

The Church leaders explained how smuggling of dry arecanut from Myanmar on large scale through the state of Mizoram is banned in Assam which caused the imposition of a ban on exporting locally grown arecanut of Mizoram as well.

They requested his intervention in resolving this situation.


The Union Minister thanked the Church leaders for sharing their concerns on the matter relating to the welfare of the farmers.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha recently talked with his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma over the issue and written letter to resolve the problem.

Recently Mizoram Home Minister Home Lalchamliana was in Guwahati to hold Ministers level meeting between Assam and Mizoram.

High level delegation from Mizoram expressed that there has been huge unrest among the areca nut growers’ in Mizoram on account of problems being faced in transportation of their produce to Assam and other parts of the country. Both the sides agreed to refer the issue to respective Chief Ministers to evolve an amicable solution. Both sides also agreed to continue a sustained zero tolerance policy against transportation of smuggled arecanut from other countries.