2. Areca nut production data for India for the year 2019-20

 

As per the report published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, only 11 nations are producing areca nut globally.   The global areca nut production was 22.11 lakh tonnes in 2020.  Among all the nations, India is the major producer, contributing 62.5 % to the global areca nut production in 2020.

As per the report published by Directorate of Areca nut and Spices, Calicut, total areca nut production in India in 2019-20 was 13,52,761 tonnes. Whereas, as per Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, areca nut produced in India in 2020 was 13,82,000. There was a data inconsistency to the tune of 29,239 tonnes.

As per the report published by Directorate of Areca nut and Spices Calicut, Karnataka state alone contributes about 80% to the Indian production and the closest competitor is Kerala with a mere 6.86% contribution.

State-wise areca nut production for the year 2019-20, is as follows.

1. Current status of global Areca nut production

 

As per the most recent report published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, only 11 nations are producing areca nut globally.   As per the report, total areca nut production was 22.11 lakh Tonnes of areca nut in 2020 which is a whopping 21.9% increase compared to 2019 production figures. Similarly, areca nut production in 2019 had clocked about 17.4% increase compared to 2018 production figures. There is a significant year on years increase in the global areca nut production.  

Among all the nations, India is the major producer, contributing 62.5 % to the global areca nut production in 2020. Bangladesh and Myanmar are the other two major producers. All the three countries together contributed for 86.7% of world areca nut production in 2020 and 83.6% in 2019.

Among the 11 nations listed by FAO, China & Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Nepal, had contributed 19.1% of the global areca nut production in 2018.  Total tonnage of areca nut produced in those countries remained more or less constant over 2018 to 2020 (at about 2,75,000 Tonnes). Whereas their contribution decreased to 12.5 % in 2020, showing a dip of 6.6% global share compared to 2018 figures. This is due to the massive increase in areca nut production in India. The total tonnage in India increased from 8,33,000 Tonnes in 2018 to 13,82,000 Tonnes in 2020.

Among all the areca nut producing nations, India is the leading producer and showed a massive 53.38% increase in areca nut production in 2020 compared to its previous year. Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka too showed a steady increase in areca nut production year on year. However, the areca nut production is more or less stable in China/Taiwan. On the contrary, areca nut production in Thailand is showing a steady decreasing trend during 2018 to 2020.

Interestingly, nations like Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Laos which are known to produce and consume areca nut are not figured in the report published by FAO. Perhaps, due to the insignificant production figures & acreage of areca nut plantations, their names have been omitted.

The detailed data is presented in the following table. The data was compiled from the detailed reports of production of crops & live stocks of East Asian countries published by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) in March 2022.

Please note: Complete data on the global areca nut production for the year 2021 and beyond, is not yet been made available by FAO, United Nations. As and when the data is available, it will be discussed in my Blog. 

9. Names of Areca nut & Betel leaf in various languages and countries

Areca nut and Betel leaf has multiple names in each region and languages due to historical reasons, cultural connections, prevailing practices and evolution of languages. Multiple names for areca nut and betel leaves are found in Sanskrit language. In India, numerous names are there in each region and languages. Among the southeast Asian countries, more number of names are there in Indonesia and Philippines, perhaps due to the antiquity of their use in those countries. 

 

8. Introduction of Tobacco to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia

 

A remarkable change in the consumption pattern of Tambula (Betel quid) appeared to have occurred in the 17th century due to the introduction of Tobacco to the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia. Tobacco became an important adjunct along with Katha and spices to the Tambula. Due to the addictive nature of Tobacco, the frequency of chewing Tambula also increased many folds’ contrary to the common practice of eating Tambula after the meal.

Until about 1590, tobacco and its products were virtually unknown to the Indian subcontinent. Tobacco introduced from American continent through European traders became a major crop within few decades of its introduction. The story of rapid expansion of tobacco cultivation and trade is a fascinating story of Indian economic history.

Christopher Columbus came across tobacco, when he arrived in Cuba accidently in 1492, while he was trying to discover India. He witnessed the natives smoking some dry herb called by the name “Tobaco” and “Tombac” in rituals and feast for pleasure. Later, Spanish explorers saw tobacco agriculture in “Tabasco” region in Mexico by Mayan people. Hernández de Boncalo, Spanish chronicler of the Indies, was the first European to bring tobacco seeds to Europe in 1559 following orders of King Philip II of Spain. Tobacco expanded in Africa in 1560s by Spanish and Portuguese sailors, first to the coastal cities of continent and then from there to the eastern and middle African countries.

As per historic evidence, tobacco cultivation was initially introduced into two separate areas of India, the present state of Gujarat (Surat-Broach area) and the state of Andhra Pradesh (Masulipatam and interior) before 1,600 AD. The custom of smoking tobacco (Hokah) spread rapidly in Mughal India after its introduction in 1604 or 1605. The cultivation and use of tobacco, proved to be a rich source of revenue for Mughals.

A British traveler Thomas Bowrey, documented widespread use of tobacco in India and parts of South- east Asia during 1669 and 1679 CE. As per his book, tobacco used to be included among items given in gift to the faquirs (holy men) in northern India, and on the Coromandel coast it was served with the betel leaf and at all Hindu weddings. As per him, it was farmed in the Andhra region and around Madras and exported to Achin in Sumatra & Java and Persian Gulf-Red Sea area.

The cultivation of tobacco which initially began in the Gujarat and Andhra regions, quickly spread to other areas of the country. During Jahangir's reign tobacco farming "began to predominate over other crops" and soon the crop was grown almost everywhere. Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, as well as northern and central India in general saw the growth of tobacco cultivation through the seventeenth century. By the end of the seventeenth century the consumption of tobacco, either through smoking or chewing with Tambula, had spread throughout the diverse strata of Indian society. Tobacco had become almost a necessity as much for the aristocrat as the poor man and this domestic demand stimulated production. The profits of tobacco farming were substantial for both the farmers who grew it and the government that collected taxes from it.

Historical evidences suggest the use of Tobacco for smoking in various forms (Cigar, Hookah) or consumption in the form of Snuff. The whole of western world and Gulf nations including Mughals were consuming the tobacco for smoking or as snuff. How and when the use of Tobacco or its products as adjuncts in Tambula, came to practice is worth investigating. 

7. History of Areca nut / Tambula (Betel quid) consumption in Southeast Asian countries

 

From linguistic, archaeological, literary, and oral sources, it can be concluded that Tambula chewing was practiced in South-East Asia in prehistoric times. From the beginning centuries of the common era (CE) its use spread throughout the region, and from the tenth century onwards, it appears Tambula was an integral part of various rituals and social gatherings. During the Dynasties of Jin (1115–1234 CE) and Yuan (1279–1368 CE) in China, there were evidence of introduction of areca nut pills (Called Muxiang Binglong Pill) for reinforcing vital energy.

Recent excavations at Quseir al-Qadim, an ancient port located on the Red Sea coast of Egypt, proved the existence of a large-scale trade of areca nuts during 11-13 Century CE. Considering the fact that Quseir al-Qadim lies in the main transit route of Islamic trade between South and South-East Asia and North Africa, the Mediterranean and Europe, it is the only evidence available on the use of Areca nuts in the western countries in the medieval period.

By the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the chewing of Tambula was established virtually everywhere in tropical Asia. It was a symbol of indispensable politeness to be offered to a guest in court or village, and as a central ritual symbol, as digestive, dentifrice and mouth freshener, and as the relaxant that made life more bearable-especially when traveling, warring, or otherwise short of food. Areca nut and betel leaf frequently accompanied the dead during funerals. Betel chewing and its ingredients were featured widely in healing rituals and practices, in offerings to the ubiquitous spirits of the dead, and in every social and ritual function. Areca nut and betel leaves were the essentials of every ritual of courtship and marriage. At the marriage ceremony itself the betel ingredients are usually presented as part of the bride-price. In Malay and Sumatran weddings in the nineteenth century, an ornate "Areca tree" comprised of betel leaves was carried in procession.