Figures provided by the directorate of economics and statistics show that the area under arecanut cultivation, its production and productivity are all falling.

The area under arecanut cultivation in the state fell from 108,590 hectares in 2005-06 to 100,731 hectares in 2007-08, production dropped from 119,309 tonnes to 108,487, and productivity from 1,099 kg/hectare to 1,077 kg/hectare during the same period.

Senior state agricultural department official Sudesh V. John told IANS that he was not sure how rusted nails prevent the disease but there were some reports of farmers using the method in Kasargode district a few years ago.

'Maybe the presence of ferrous oxide in rusted nails does the trick and prevents fungal attacks. We have no knowledge of any scientific studies undertaken in this regard,' said John.