Bengaluru, April 18 -- As temperatures soar in Davanagere district, the arecanut heartland, there's a silver lining for farmers as the price of arecanut has surged past Rs 50,000 per quintal. This unexpected rise in prices has brought smiles to the faces of growers who had been grappling with various challenges, including dwindling groundwater levels and pre-monsoon water scarcity.

The decline in groundwater levels has compelled farmers to resort to tanker water, incurring significant expenses to sustain their groundnut plantations. Moreover, the challenge of maintaining the estates was exacerbated by the sporadic pre-monsoon rains that only lashed some parts of thedistrict. With tubewells, lakes, and dams running dry, farmers have been ...