Work on Rs 14-crore areca nut research centre in Raigad’s Diveagar to begin soon: Minister
Maharashtra is set to accelerate work on a dedicated areca nut research centre in Diveagar, Raigad, with Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane directing officials on Tuesday to move swiftly on the project. The facility, planned with an outlay of Rs 14 crore, will come up in Shrivardhan taluka and is aimed at giving local growers access to improved planting material and practical, research-backed cultivation techniques.
At a review meeting held at Mantralaya in Mumbai, Bharane said the centre will focus on high-yielding and dwarf areca nut varieties, along with cultivation models suited to the Konkan’s agro-climatic conditions. The intent is to convert research into on-ground outcomes for farmers through better saplings, modern agronomic practices, and stronger market readiness.
What the centre will focus on
- High-quality sapling supply: Ensuring steady access to robust planting material for farmers.
- Varietal research: Advancing high-yielding and dwarf areca nut lines that align with local needs.
- Intercropping systems: Developing combinations tailored to the coastal climate to improve farm resilience and income.
- Nursery-led propagation: Scaling reliable nursery practices for consistent plant performance.
- Employment and village development: Using the centre as a catalyst for local jobs and community planning.
- Technology dissemination: Translating research into field-ready guidance for widespread adoption.
Tenders to be fast-tracked
To prevent bottlenecks at the start line, Bharane asked Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, to fast-track the tender process. This is intended to clear the way for immediate commencement of building construction and associated works once bids are finalized. Speed in the early civil and infrastructure phases is seen as essential to getting research activities underway at the earliest.
Tourism synergy and market push
Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, who attended the meeting, noted that Diveagar is already a prominent tourist destination. The research centre, she said, can serve a dual purpose: supporting the farming community and offering an additional point of interest for visitors. Beyond footfall, the facility is expected to play a strategic role in promoting the region’s premium areca nut variety and making it more widely available to cultivators.
Why it matters for farmers
The state’s approach is geared toward practical outcomes: better planting materials, balanced cropping systems tailored to coastal conditions, and a clearer pathway for farmers to adopt proven techniques. With a dedicated node for research and dissemination in Shrivardhan taluka, growers stand to benefit from locally relevant findings rather than generic advisories. The result could be more predictable yields, diversified income through intercropping, and a tighter linkage between research institutions and village-level practice.
What’s next
With directives issued to expedite tendering, the immediate focus shifts to mobilizing construction and operational infrastructure. Once foundational work begins, the centre can ramp up nursery operations, field trials on varieties and intercropping, and structured outreach to farming communities in and around Raigad. The administration’s stated objective is clear: turn research into accessible, on-farm benefits without delay.
