Replying to the issue raised by U T Khadar of Congress during the question hour, Yeddyurappa said he would hold a meeting of all leaders in the next few days to protect the interests of the arecanut growers in the state.
Yeddyurappa said he would also write a letter to the Centre demanding a better price on a scientific ground under market intervention operation for the arecanut growers.
Stating that he had already written a letter to the Centre recommending better prices for such crops, he said the state government had released Rs 25 crore already under the minimum support price and was procuring the crop to save the growers.
More than six lakh families depend on arecanut with annual business worth Rs 20 crore in the state.