Dharmanagar, Mar 31, 2025, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Dharmanagar, March 31: The influx of Burmese areca nuts has severely impacted Tripura’s local producers, as it became difficult for them to sell their produce. 

Once in high demand in Assam’s Silchar, Karimganj and Badarpur, Tripura’s areca nuts are now struggling to find buyers. Farmers also face hurdles in transporting their produce to Assam.

Earlier, wholesale buyers from Dharmanagar, Kanchanpur, Damcherra and Jampui Hills would directly purchase areca nuts from plantations. 

Now, with Burmese areca nuts dominating the market, local produce remains unsold, which led significant losses. 

Many hill families, including the Lusai community had shifted from orange cultivation to areca nut farming, but declining profits have discouraged them.

With truckloads of Burmese areca nuts entering the state daily through Damcherra’s Dasarath Bridge and Churaibari, local farmers are struggling.