Overview B.Y. Raghavendra , the Member of Parliament from Shivamogga , raised critical issues concerning the areca growers of Karnataka in the Lok Sabha on December 4, 2025 . He specifically sought the intervention of the Union Government to address the significant losses suffered by growers, particularly those in the Malnad region, due to prevalent diseases affecting areca plantations. Key Developments Impact of Diseases During the Zero Hour, Mr. Raghavendra highlighted that the yield in areca plantations had drastically declined due to the widespread impact of yellow-leaf disease (YLD) and leaf spot disease (LSD) . The situation was further exacerbated by heavy rains in 2025 , severely impacting the financial stability of the growers. Shortcomings in Crop Insurance He pointed out critical shortcomings in the weather-based crop insurance scheme, which resulted in growers being denied rightful compensation for losses incurred during the kharif season of 2024-25 . Specifically, he noted that nearly 50% of rain gauges in the district were non-functional, leading to technically flawed insurance assessments due to the absence of accurate rainfall data. Demands for Intervention He urged the Agriculture Ministry to intervene and direct the Government of Karnataka to recalculate compensation based on data collected from the nearest functioning weather station. He also demanded a special assistance package for the areca growers to alleviate their financial distress. UPSC Relevance This news is relevant to the UPSC Civil Services Exam , particularly under GS Paper III (Economy: Agriculture) and GS Paper II (Government Policies and Interventions) . It highlights issues related to agricultural distress, crop diseases, and the effectiveness of government schemes like weather-based crop insurance. Understanding these issues is crucial for Mains answers related to agriculture and rural development. Important Facts Date of Issue Raised: December 4, 2025 MP Raising the Issue: B.Y. Raghavendra Affected Region: Malnad region of Karnataka Key Diseases: Yellow-leaf disease (YLD) and leaf spot disease (LSD) Insurance Scheme Issue: Flawed weather-based crop insurance Season Affected: Kharif season of 2024-25