Mangaluru (TNN): Raw arecanut grown in Karnataka could well find its way to China for some value addition. A Chinese company has evinced interest in buying the 20 lakh tonnes of the produce. Talks are on between Kou Wei Wang Ji Tuan You Xian Gongsi in China's Hu Nan province and The Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative Ltd (Campco).
The Chinese company wants to use the peel in the manufacture of mouth freshener and chewing gum.
Confirming the development, Campco president Konkodi Padmanabha said: "Campco will procure the arecanut from farmers and supply it to the Chinese firm." The Chinese firm's main interest is in the peel, not the arecanut inside. "They have even offered to sell the arecanut back to us after removing its peel."
Sourcing raw arecanut for export will not affect domestic supply, Padmanabha said. It is a well-established fact that arecanut yield is better when raw arecanut is harvested.
Campco, with members in Karnataka and Kerala, will continue to work ma
