Archive · 10 Dec 2025
Govt tightens rules to curb illegal arecanut imports
The Indian government is checking rules to stop illegal arecanut imports.
They found that imports from certain countries have gone down because they made the price for imported arecanut higher.
This helps Indian farmers.
The government is also helping tea growers deal with climate change by teaching them better farming methods.
Tea production in the northeast has been growing slowly but steadily.
The Indian government is verifying 'Rules of Origin' to prevent illegal arecanut imports from countries not covered under the Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) scheme.
Imports of arecanut from LDECs (Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan) declined from 32,238 tonne in 2022-23 to 21,160 tonne in 2024-25 due to a revision in the minimum import price (MIP).
The MIP was raised to ₹351 per kg in February 2023 to protect domestic farmers and prevent price destabilization.
The government is implementing measures to combat climate change in tea production, including planting drought-resistant plants and better water management.
Tea production in the North Eastern Region has grown from 647.20 million kg to 692.91 million kg between 2020-21 and 2024-25.
- Who
- Indian government, Central Board of Excise and Customs, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada
- What
- Verification of 'Rules of Origin' to prevent illegal arecanut imports, measures to combat climate change in tea production
- When
- 2024-25, February 2023
- Where
- India, Least Developed Exporting Countries (Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan)
- Why
- To safeguard domestic farmers, restrict imports, prevent entry of inferior quality arecanut, and check destabilization of domestic prices
- Quantity imported from LDECs (2024-25)
- 21,160 tonne
- India's arecanut production (2024-25)
- 14 lakh tonne
- Import decline (2022-23 to 2024-25)
- 32,238 tonne to 21,160 tonne
- Minimum Import Price (MIP) revision
- ₹251 per kg to ₹351 per kg
- Annual average price of arecanut
- Above ₹40,000 per quintal
- Tea production growth (2020-21 to 2024-25)
- 647.20 million kg to 692.91 million kg
- Tea productivity growth (2020-21 to 2024-25)
- 1736 kg per hectare to 1795 kg per hectare
