Captain Brijesh Chowta, the Member of Parliament for Dakshina Kannada, has formally appealed to the Union Government for urgent financial and technical assistance to combat the devastating impacts of Leaf Spot Disease (LSD) and Yellow Leaf Disease (YLD) affecting arecanut farmers in coastal Karnataka and the Malnad region. In his communication with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chowta detailed the extensive damage caused by these diseases, which threaten the livelihoods of thousands of farmers in districts such as Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, and Kodagu. He noted that while ₹225 crore had been sanctioned under a 60:40 funding pattern, restrictive expenditure ceilings under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) have hindered the effective utilization of these funds. Chowta has requested that the Centre align financial assistance with the actual costs recommended by the ICAR–Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) to facilitate effective disease management. He also highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive support package and invited Chouhan to visit Mangaluru to engage with local farmers and experts, emphasizing the importance of coordinated efforts to safeguard farmers' incomes and ensure the sustainability of arecanut cultivation.