Trade in arecanut is always a gamble and farmers are the worst hit. The price advantages are not transfered to farmers and the traders are making hay under such circumstances. Lack of market information and intelligence has pushed the farmers to the state of price takers. In order to protect the farmers and save them from distress sale of arecanut and to guide them in making proper decisions with regard to marketing, the Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell, Department of Agri-business Management, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad is making efforts.

          The data on monthly price of arecanut for the past twenty years were collected from Kumta and Sirsi regulated markets and were analyzed by employing rigorous statistical time series models and the prices that would prevail in these markets for the next three months for different varients of arecanut have been predicted. In order to cross check and fine tune the forecast prices, the opinions and suggestions of arecanut traders, agricultural scientists and progressive farmers in the respective market area were also collected. The prices in other major markets for arecanut and government policies with regard to the crop were also considered which influence the future prices of arecanut in these markets.

          There are different variants in arecanut which are unique to each market. In order to help farmers to decide upon their selling, the Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell (DEMIC) has come out with the forecast prices arecanut crop in these markets for the next three months. According to the prediction of DEMIC Dharwad, the prices of “chippu” arecanut would be Rs.10200-10800 in the month of November, Rs. 10500-11000 in the month of December and Rs. 10400-10800 in the month of January; the prices of “Factory” nuts would be Rs.6500-6800, Rs.6700-7000 and Rs. 6800-7200 in the months of November, December and January respectively and  “Cocca”  prices would be Rs.9100-9500, Rs. 9000-9300 and Rs. 8400-8800 in that order in Kumta regulated market.

In Sirsi regulated market the prices of “Bilegotu” would be Rs.11600-12100 in the month of November, Rs. 11700-12200 in the month of December and Rs. 11600-12000 in the month of January; the prices of “Rashi” nuts would be Rs. 8400-8900, Rs.8700-9100 and Rs. 8900-9400 in the months of November, December and January respectively and that of “Cocca” arecanut would fetch Rs.8900-9300, Rs.9000-9600 and Rs.9200-9800 in that order. Well dried, cleaned, uniform sized and graded nuts would fetch better prices. Hence, farmers are advised to keep these things in mind while preparing the arecanut for market.