Start Work on the Areca Nut Research Center at Diveagar at the Earliest – Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane

Mumbai, Aug 2025 : Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane has directed the Agriculture Department to expedite the commencement of work on the proposed Areca Nut Research Center at Diveagar in Raigad district, with an allocated budget of ₹14 crore.

The Minister was speaking at a meeting held in Mantralaya regarding the proposed research center. Present on the occasion were Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, Principal Secretary of the Agriculture Department Vikaschandra Rastogi, Varsha Ladda-Untwal of the Maharashtra Council of Agricultural Education and Research, Vice Chancellor of Dapoli Agricultural University Sanjay Bhave, co-researcher Kalpesh Shinde, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Department Pratibha Patil, along with other officials.

Minister Bharane said the proposed Areca Nut Research Center at Diveagar (tal. Shrivardhan) will greatly benefit local farmers by providing high-quality saplings. The center is expected to focus on developing dwarf, high-yield, and superior-quality areca nut varieties, promoting intercropping techniques suited to Diveagar’s climatic conditions, organizing programs to deliver advanced technologies to farmers, generating employment, setting up nurseries, developing grafts, and preparing village development plans for surrounding areas.

Funding for the center has already been approved. He directed Dapoli Agricultural University to expedite the tender process and complete construction and allied activities to begin operations at the earliest.

Diveagar Research Center Will Boost Tourism – Minister Aditi Tatkare

Minister Aditi Tatkare said Diveagar is a place of immense tourism importance, known for producing the finest quality “Rotha” variety of areca nut. The proposed Areca Nut Research Center will play a vital role in making this variety accessible to more farmers. She added that the center should also be developed as a destination for tourists, who would visit the facility, thereby boosting local tourism.