Intense cold damages betel crop in Madhya Pradesh

Belowa (Madhya Pradesh), Jan 24 (ANI): The intense cold weather in Belowa region here has led to severe damage in the betel crop, popularly known as 'paan'.

The farmers are bemoaning heavy losses as almost all their betel produce has been hit badly by the frost and cold, leading to black spots on the leaves.

Around 700-800 families engaged in betel cultivation will be left to starve if they don't get any assistance from the government.

Hari Singh Chaurasia, a farmer said, "Due to intense cold, all the crops have been damaged. There are around 700-800 families who are into cultivating paan (betel) and if we lose the crop then we will have to starve."

The rates of the betel have also gone up from Rs 100 to Rs 175 per kilogram, due to the shortage of good quality betel leaves.

Kailash Aggarwal, a betel nut seller said, "When we go to the market to purchase paan (betel leaves), we get only damaged ones, because of which we face problems. The farmers would also be facing difficulties as their entire crop has been damaged."

"We don't get clean paan leaves. All the stock we get is blackened and when we give it to the customers, they also don't like it," he added. (ANI)