Sirsi, Karnataka

Sirsi is a city located in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state in India. Administratively, Sirsi functions as the headquarters for the eponymous taluk, subdivision, and educational district. The Sirsi subdivision comprises four taluks: Sirsi, Siddapur, Yellapur, and Mundgod. The broader Sirsi Educational District encompasses these four, along with the taluks of Joida, Dandeli, and Haliyal. The local economy is predominantly driven by its agriculture-based activities. The primary cash crop cultivated in the surrounding rural areas is the areca nut locally referred to as Adike (or supāri). Notably, the 'Sirsi Supari' variety of areca nut, grown in the Sirsi subdivision, has been accorded the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) Tag, ensuring its authenticity and unique quality. The area is also renowned for its cultivation of various spices, including cardamom, pepper, betel leaves, and vanilla. Rice constitutes the principal food crop grown here. The Spices Board of India lists the prices of black pepper from Sirsi and Kochi, making them the only two markets officially designated as primary price reference centers for the black pepper in India. This makes Sirsi one of the major trading centres for agricultural productions specially arecanut and spices in India..