Mangaluru: Reiterating that areca has medicinal properties contrary to reports of it being carcinogenic, Union Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde said that a debate on the issue has been going on for quite a while.

While few have been claiming that consumption of areca leads to cancer, Ayurvedic practitioners of yester times used the same believing that it had medicinal values. This apart it also finds an important place in our age-old traditions.

He assured the farmers that a report, to be presented before the health and agriculture ministry on April 4, would list the benefits of areca.

The report titled ‘Areca & Human health’, prepared by scientists working with international as well as national research institutions, of great repute mentions that the areca has Ayurvedic and medicinal benefits.

All MPs , Union of Areca merchants and other organizations are putting efforts to convince the Union government on the benefits of the areca, he said adding that the report is the first victory in this battle.

“Few people, especially those from North India are trying to mislead people by spreading rumors of adverse health effects due to areca consumption. However these people do not know a thing about areca,” he said.