Kanhangad: Following a rise in coconut prices, areca nut (adakka) prices have also climbed hugely. Amid crop losses caused by leaf blight and Mahali disease in areca plantations, growers harvesting old-grade nuts are seeing price increases, bringing hope and relief.

In the past year, the price of old-grade (premium) areca nuts has risen by ₹90 per kg. This increase is also reflected in the prices of new-grade nuts.

In January 2024, premium old-grade nuts were priced at ₹390–410 per kg. By January 2025, they had increased slightly to ₹425–450. Ten months later, the price has surged to ₹495–520. By contrast, between January 2023 and 2024, the price of premium nuts had dropped by around ₹100 per kg.

Other varieties (secondary grades) have also seen major fluctuations. Last year, lower-qual

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