Socio-Economics and Marketing of Arecanut in Zamuang Village, Mizoram, India: An Econometric Case Study

Abstract

Arecanut, commonly known as betelnut or supari in India, is cultivated in large quantities in several countries, including India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines, and some Pacific islands. This study aims to analyse the socio-economic conditions, income distribution, marketing practices, and challenges faced by arecanut farmers in Zamuang village, Mizoram. It specifically examines the roles of gender and education in income patterns and explores the influence of middlemen in arecanut marketing. A descriptive and analytical research design was adopted to assess the socio-economic status, income levels, marketing practices, and challenges of arecanut farmers in Zamuang village, Mizoram. A sample of 100 arecanut farmers was selected through random sampling. Primary data were collected using structured interviews, and secondary data were collected from government reports and academic literature. Data analysis involved graphical representation, percentage analysis, and chi-square tests, which were performed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS, respectively. Findings show that the majority of households (70%) depend on arecanut farming as their main source of income. Income inequality is evident, with 68 per cent of farmers earning less than ₹5 lakh annually. The income distribution data shows clear gender disparities in earnings. Findings revealed that 18 per cent of females earn less than ₹5 lakh, 5 per cent earn ₹5–10 lakh, and only 1 per cent earn above ₹10 lakh annually. In contrast, 50 per cent of males earn less than ₹5 lakh, 21 per cent fall in the ₹5–10 lakh range, and 5 per cent earn over ₹10 lakh. However, Chi-square analysis revealed no significant relationship between income and gender or educational attainment. The marketing system is dominated by middlemen from Assam, who control pricing through advance purchase agreements. Farmers face multiple challenges, including poor irrigation, limited fertiliser access, bud rot disease, and the negative impact of illegal arecanut imports from Myanmar. The study concludes that while arecanut farming is essential for livelihoods in Zamuang village, productivity and income remain constrained. It recommends measures such as promoting intercropping, improving irrigation infrastructure, regulating market access, providing training in modern farming and financial literacy, and enforcing controls on illegal imports to ensure sustainable development and income enhancement for arecanut farmers.