Uncertain market leaves areca product manufacturers worried

Manufacturers of the biodegradable flatware hit by rising fuel and raw material costs

As social gatherings become more common, there is one ancillary sector of the hospitality industry that is still hoping for signs of recovering from the pandemic — manufacturers of plates and bowls made of areca sheaths (also known as paaku mattai).

Before lockdown, at least 20 manufacturers of areca flatware were active in and around Tiruchi, even though the tree is not native to this region. As they are completely biodegradable, areca sheath vessels were preferred by mass caterers after plastic disposables were banned. The small bowls ( donnai) used to serve prasadam in temples, were particularly popular.

But travel restrictions and fuel price rises have bitten into this cottage industry, forcing many to close down their units.

“The lockdown restrictions hit us badly because we couldn’t source our raw material on time. Though I am still supplying to regular customers in Canada and Germany, it is less easy to find domestic buyers,” J. Santhosh Mary, who runs J.S. Enterprises from her home in Valadi, 18 km from Tiruchi, told The Hindu.

Ms. Santhosh Mary sources the spathes, a sheath that encases the flower cluster of the areca and falls off naturally, from agents in Salem district, buying 3,000 to 5,000 pieces according to the demand. The sheaths are collected from Thuraiyur, Thammampatti and Namakkal.

They are made pliant by being soaked in water, and then drained before they are cut on a machine using heat compression. Vessels have to be dried completely in sunlight before they can be used.

The sheaths are available only from January to June, so manufacturers have to maintain their stock to make it last through the year.