Scientific Cultivation and Pest Management Training Aims to Address Arecanut Disease, Improve Productivity and Explore Carbon Credit Opportunities
Aizawl, October 2026 : Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday inaugurated a Training-cum-Seminar on the Scientific Cultivation of Arecanut and Pest Management for arecanut growers at Vanapa Hall in Aizawl. Land Resources, Soil and Water Conservation (LRS & WC) Minister Lalthansanga attended the programme as the guest of honour.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the state government had placed arecanut cultivation under the Land Resources, Soil and Water Conservation Department in 2019. According to departmental records, arecanut plantations currently cover approximately 67,380 hectares across Mizoram. The state's arecanut production during 2025–26 was estimated at around 5,12,000 quintals.
Lalduhoma expressed satisfaction that Mizoram could rank fifth among arecanut-producing states in India. He said the government was opening up opportunities for people interested in taking up arecanut cultivation as a livelihood. Applications could be submitted under the Banakaih Handholding Scheme and the Chief Minister's Special Package.
The Chief Minister noted that arecanut plantations had increasingly been affected by a serious disease since around 2021. Departmental officials, along with scientists from the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development under the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, had conducted field visits and investigations to study the problem.
Scientists are currently preparing a report on the causes of the disease and recommendations for its management. The report will be submitted to the Union Agriculture Minister. Lalduhoma said the Mizoram government had high hopes of receiving support from the Union Agriculture Ministry to address the problem.
He also said the government was exploring the possibility of intercropping arecanut with cocoa. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CPCRI) and the LRS & WC Department were in discussions on the initiative.
Emphasising the importance of proper plantation management, Lalduhoma urged growers to care for their arecanut trees and follow scientific advice from experts. He said the training programme had been organised to help farmers improve their knowledge and adopt better cultivation practices.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that arecanut growers needed various forms of assistance, including medicines to control the disease, fertilisers, irrigation facilities, pipes and link roads connecting their plantations. He said the government was considering these requirements in a phased manner.
He added that the LRS & WC Department had secured Rs 27.66 crore through NABARD and the State's SASCI funding mechanism for constructing link roads to plantations growing arecanut, rubber and broom grass. A total of 170 km of link roads had been planned at different locations.
Lalduhoma also highlighted the environmental benefits of plantation crops such as arecanut, rubber and coffee. These crops absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), a major greenhouse gas, and can contribute to efforts to mitigate global warming.
The government was exploring ways to generate carbon financing from these plantations and was holding discussions with potential carbon-trading agencies and carbon aggregators. If the initiative progresses as expected, plantation owners could earn substantial additional income through carbon credits generated by their arecanut, rubber and coffee plantations, he said.
Urging farmers to work diligently, the Chief Minister said individual effort was crucial to achieving success. He encouraged participants to learn actively, make effective use of the training and apply the knowledge gained to improve their livelihoods.
Speaking as the guest of honour, LRS & WC Minister Lalthansanga described farmers as the government's VIPs and said the government was making every effort to ensure that they benefited from their hard work.
He observed that arecanut growers often faced difficulties because they relied on traditional methods of cultivation. The department was working to promote scientific and modern approaches to plantation management.
The minister welcomed the confidence farmers had placed in the Soil Department and stressed the need to adopt research-based practices. He urged participants to make the most of the training and continue working towards improving agricultural productivity.
Mizoram Arecanut Growers' Association (MKCP) president C. Laldina also addressed the programme. He expressed satisfaction that the state had a government attentive to the concerns of farmers. He said the Chief Minister had considered the association's requirements since its establishment and had consistently made efforts to address them.
Laldina said modern scientific methods were essential to ensure that arecanut produce could be marketed more profitably and in better condition. He welcomed the training initiative and expressed hope that all participants would benefit from it.
At the programme, LRS & WC Joint Secretary Mark Lalthanliana delivered the welcome address. Two farmers recognised for their high arecanut production—Lallawmthanga Ralte of Mamit district and B. Lalnuntluanga of Kolasib district—were felicitated. LRS & WC Director Engineer Vanlalmuanpuia Chhangte delivered the vote of thanks and formally concluded the inaugural session.
The afternoon training session was chaired by LRS & WC Joint Director (Administration) Rosy Lalmuansangi Hmar. Director Vanlalmuanpuia Chhangte addressed the participants, while Dr Rebecca Lalmuanpuii, Subject Matter Specialist in Agroforestry, delivered a session on the scientific cultivation of arecanut.
C. Laldanmawia, Assistant Soil Chemist (ASCE) of the LRS & WC Department, conducted the question-and-answer session. Engineer Lallawmawmi Ralte, Soil Conservation Engineer (SCE), delivered the vote of thanks, bringing the training programme to a close.
The first training programme for arecanut growers was organised on March 28, 2025, at the ATI Auditorium. Following this year's programme in Aizawl, another training session is scheduled to be held in Lunglei on October 23, 2026.
