While thanking the Centre for responding to arecanut sector’s longstanding requests to address the classification of arecanut as carcinogenic by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd has urged the Members of Parliament (MPs) from areca-growing region to impress upon the Ministry concerned to commence the research work at the earliest.
A media statement said that Campco expresses its gratitude to the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and to all the MPs from areca-growing areas for their unwavering support and recognition of the vital role of arecanut in India’s socio-cultural, religious, and economic landscape.
After thorough deliberation and advocacy by Campco, the Ministry has approved a collaborative research initiative involving premier institutes of India. 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.
Plea to MPs
The statement said Campco has also urged the MPs from areca-growing region to impress upon the Ministry concerned to commence the research work at the earliest, ensuring swift action on the research initiative.
Mentioning that WHO’s classification of arecanut was primarily based on research that examined its consumption as part of mixtures like betel quid and ‘gutkha’, which include harmful additives, the statement said 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 anti-cancer properties of arecanut’s active compounds, which require further exploration. This new research initiative is a significant step toward filling these knowledge gaps, it said.
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, it said, adding, this development reinforces Campco’s dedication to protecting farmers’ livelihoods and advocating for scientific clarity on arecanut’s role in human health.
