CAMPCO’s efforts bear fruit: Ministry Approves Collaborative Research on Arecanut

CAMPCO’s efforts bear fruit: Ministry Approves Collaborative Research on Arecanut

mangaloretoday.com

Mangaluru, December 04, 2024: The CAMPCO Ltd., (The Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative Limited) expresses its heart felt gratitude to all the Members of Parliament of Areca Growing areas and the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for their unwavering support and recognition of the vital role of Arecanut in India’s socio-cultural, religious, and economic landscape.

The Ministry has positively responded to CAMPCO’s persistent efforts and longstanding requests to address the contentious classification of Arecanut as carcinogenic by the World Health Organization (WHO). After thorough deliberation and advocacy by CAMPCO, the Ministry has approved aground-breaking, collaborative research initiative involving premier institutes of India, including AIIMS, CSIR-CCMB, IISc, and others. This comprehensive study, titled "Evidence-Based Research on Arecanut and Human Health", aims to clarify the misconceptions surrounding Arecanut and provide conclusive scientific evidence about its health effects.

In this regard, CAMPCO has also urged the Members of Parliament from areca-growing regions to impress upon the concerned Ministry to commence the research work at the earliest, ensuring swift action on the research initiative.

The WHO’s classification of Arecanut was primarily based on research that examined its consumption as part of mixtures like betel quid and gutka, which include harmful additives. CAMPCO has consistently pointed out the flaws in this approach, emphasizing the need to differentiate the health impact of pure Arecanut from those of such mixtures. Furthermore, emerging studies have highlighted potential anticancer properties of Arecanut’s active compounds, which require further exploration. This new research initiative is a significant step toward filling these knowledge gaps.

CAMPCO extends its gratitude to the Union Ministry of Agriculture for acknowledging these concerns and initiating research that safeguards the interests of lakhs of Arecanut farmers. This development reinforces CAMPCO’s dedication to protecting farmers’ livelihoods and advocating for scientific clarity on Arecanut’s role in human health.

CAMPCO also thanks the MPs from Arecanut-growing regions of Karnataka and Kerala for their consistent advocacy and support in addressing this major issue. This milestone highlights the power of collective efforts for the welfare of farmers. As always, CAMPCO remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for the well-being of farmers and protecting the legacy of Arecanut, a crop that is deeply intertwined with India’s heritage and rural livelihoods.