CAMPCO to expand arecanut procurement, sales across India

CAMPCO president S.R. Satishchandra speaking at the 52nd annual general meeting at Adyar Garden in Mangaluru on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative Ltd. (CAMPCO), an inter-state cooperative organisation of arecanut growers of Karnataka and Kerala, has decided to expand its arecanut procurement and sales operations nationwide, according to its president S.R. Satishchandra.Announcing this at the cooperative’s 52nd Annual General Meeting here on Saturday, he said CAMPCO now faces a situation where it must compete in the global market; consequently, its business operations are being expanded to the national level. Agreements will be signed with cooperative societies across various States for direct procurement and sales. The plan also involves procuring agricultural produce from different States for sale in Karnataka and Kerala.He said preparations for organising an international conference on arecanut in Mangaluru in January 2027 have begun. The event will be held with the cooperation of the Union and State governments. Topics such as food safety, growth, research, sustainability, and market dynamics would undergo extensive discussion at the conference.The president said CAMPCO has decided to open an arecanut export unit in Mangaluru.He asked growers to maintain consistent quality and increase their business dealings with CAMPCO.The president said proposals to procure jackfruit and cashew nuts from farmers, similar to the existing procurement of arecanut, cocoa, rubber, and pepper, are under consideration.Efforts will be made to draw the attention of elected representatives towards securing the Padma Shri award for CAMPCO’s founder, the late Varanasi Subraya Bhat, he said.Member-growers voiced several demands, including a requirement to incorporate provisions in the bylaws for granting incentive payments to growers — beyond mere profit margins — when arecanut prices rise. They urged CAMPCO to ensure easy access to insurance facilities for all member-growers and emphasised the need to prioritise arecanut research and encourage the production of value-added arecanut products. They also called for extending CAMPCO’s welfare schemes to cocoa growers, achieving complete energy self-sufficiency through the installation of wind power systems, and facilitating online meetings for member-growers.The AGM agreed to distribute a 14% dividend to member-growers this year. Published - September 13, 2026 07:11 pm IST