A delegation from the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative Ltd. (CAMPCO), led by President Kishore Kumar Kodgi, Managing Director Dr. B.V. Sathyanarayana, and ARDF Executive Officer Dr. Keshav Bhat, met with Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization, at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai.
During the meeting, the CAMPCO representatives voiced concerns over the World Health Organization’s classification of arecanut as carcinogenic, which they claim has severely impacted the livelihoods of countless arecanut farmers. The delegation presented more than 20 research studies suggesting that arecanut is not carcinogenic and may even possess anti-cancer properties.
In response, Dr. Swaminathan expressed understanding of the farmers’ challenges and recommended presenting this research data to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the WHO through the Government of India.
She also pledged her support to the farmers, including advocating for discussions with India’s Ministries of Agriculture and Health and Family Welfare. CAMPCO extended its gratitude to Dr. Swaminathan for her guidance and commitment to the welfare of arecanut farmers.
