New Delhi: Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta has asked the Central government to ensure the prevention of the spread of yellow leaf disease in arecanut plantations in the district.

Addressing the Lok Sabha, Chowta said that India is the largest producer as well as consumer of arecanut in the world and the crop is grown on more than 50 per cent of agricultural land in Dakshina Kannada alone. The disease, however, had caused severe damage in plantations owned by many agriculturists in Dakshina Kannada, reports Deccan Herald.

The Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative Limited (CAMPCO), an organization working since 1973 to support the arecanut and cocoa growers of both Karnataka and Kerala, has reported that the arecanut crop on more than 16,000 hectares had been affected by the yellow leaf disease, which had directly affected more than 6,000 farmers, Chowta stated.

The MP, stressing on the importance of collective action and commitment to solve the problems that could affect the future of arecanut cultivation in Dakshina Kannada, suggested that the government could provide one-time relief to the affected farmers and also set up a research centre to develop disease-resistant varieties of areca and to control the spread of the disease.

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New Delhi: Concerned by the rising cases of obesity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on citizens to reduce their oil consumption in food and also pass on the challenge of reducing oil intake by ten percent to 10 others, as part of a collective effort to address the issue.

In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address, Modi emphasised that reducing oil intake is not just a personal decision but a responsibility towards one’s family and health.

Modi referred to a study that highlights the growing obesity problem, citing that one in every eight individuals is affected. "According to WHO data from 2022, approximately 250 crore people worldwide were overweight, which is a concerning figure. Obesity is a serious issue that leads to several health complications," he noted.

Modi explained that excessive oil consumption is linked to various health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. He suggested a method to combat this: reduce oil intake by 10 percent each month. “You can decide to buy 10 percent less oil while grocery shopping. This small change can significantly contribute to reducing obesity," he said.

Additionally, Modi encouraged listeners to pass on this challenge to 10 other people.

The prime minister also shared messages from Olympic javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and boxing champion Nikhat Zareen, who both advocated for healthier lifestyles and warned against consuming fried foods.