Kawrthah , Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Wednesday said his government has been making every effort to protect and uplift farmers, particularly arecanut growers, who have faced difficulties due to illegal smuggling of the produce.
Because of illegal smuggling, addressing the second Arecanut Festival at Kawrthah in western Mizoram’s Mamit district, Lalduhoma said that arecanut growers in the Hachhek area had for some time faced serious problems in selling their produce.
He credited the coordinated efforts of the government, voluntary organisations and members of the Hachhek Bial Arecanut Growers’ Association with helping authorities seize large quantities of illegally smuggled arecanuts. The chief minister said that 2025 recorded the highest volume of arecanut sales in Mizoram, reflecting the improving prospects of growers. Under the Chief Minister’s Rubber Mission, the government plans to develop 11,500 hectares of rubber plantations within five years, besides strengthening processing and market infrastructure, he said.
The government, he said, had taken all possible steps to safeguard the interests of farmers and ensure that they received proper returns for their produce. Lalduhoma said that the government would continue to support farmers through its flagship ‘Bana Kaih’ scheme, including efforts to improve arecanut plantations and promote processing and value addition. The government had sought the intervention of the Union Agriculture Ministry based on findings and recommendations emerging from studies conducted by the Directorate of Arecanut & Spices Development and state officials, he said.
