India's arecanut cultivation area surges 30%, but output and productivity fall

India's arecanut cultivation area has expanded by 30 per cent over four years, rising from 8.49 lakh hectares in 2021-22 to 11.06 lakh hectares in 2025-26.

Despite the significant increase in acreage, both production and productivity of the crop have recorded a decline during the same period. The trend points to challenges in crop yield efficiency even as farmers have expanded land under arecanut cultivation.

Areanut, also known as betel nut, is an important cash crop in several Indian states, with major cultivation in coastal and Western regions.