Losses in betel cultivation have reached such an extent in the last few decades that most farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s Mahoba have given up farming it
29-year-old Bijendra Chaurasia, a betel farmer in Mahoba, has not seen such destruction ever. Deshavari paan worth lakhs of rupees in Bijendra’s Bareja got spoiled in front of his eyes. It will take years for them to recover from this seasonal loss.
The condition of most of the betel farmers of Mahoba is similar to that of Bijendra. Some people lost 70-100 per cent of their betel yield. Many farmers believe that they have never seen such an outbreak of cold wave and frost before.
Betel cultivation is often affected by cold, but usually about 50 per cent betel leaves are spared. But this year’s loss was huge. A balanced climate is required for betel cultivation. The extreme conditions of every season are harmful for it.
In the last few decades, the losses in betel cultivation have reached such an extent that most of the betel farmers have become disheartened and have given up betel cultivation. Some are sure that that in the coming years, the betel leaf of Mahoba will become completely extinct.
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