By News Karnataka
Copyright newskarnataka
Mangaluru: In a major step to support arecanut farmers, the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative Ltd. (Campco) has announced plans to begin in-house production of organic fertilisers. The inter-state cooperative, which currently sources raw materials from external suppliers, is set to purchase 18 acres of land at Hiriyur in Chitradurga for this purpose.
The announcement was made by Campco president A. Kishore Kumar Kodgi during the cooperative’s 51st annual general meeting held on Saturday.
Organic fertiliser production planned
Mr. Kodgi said that Campco currently provides organic manure under the brand Campco Aayush, produced on an outsourced basis. In addition, it markets ‘poushtika’, a micronutrient mixture, and dolomite, a natural soil amendment. By setting up its own fertiliser production facility in Hiriyur, Campco aims to cut costs and ensure better availability of organic inputs to farmers.
Campco app for farmers by March
The cooperative will also launch a dedicated mobile application for its farmer members by March next year. The app will provide daily updates on arecanut and commodity prices, stock market details, and transaction records of members. Importantly, it will enable farmers to sell pledged arecanut whenever market prices rise, ensuring greater flexibility.
The app, Mr. Kodgi noted, is part of Campco’s efforts to make services more accessible and transparent for its members.
Pledge facility and loan support
To benefit ordinary arecanut growers, Campco has revised the pledge facility. Member customers can now pledge up to two quintals of arecanut, compared to the earlier limit of 10 quintals. Such customers will be eligible for a maximum of 60% of the amount as an advance loan, of which availing at least 30% is mandatory.
Campco also plans to extend the nitrogen storage system for arecanut to all its branches, thereby improving storage quality and enhancing pledge facilities.
Focus on soil testing facilities
To assist farmers in improving soil health and productivity, Campco has opened a state-of-the-art soil testing centre in Puttur. Mr. Kodgi said that similar facilities will be extended to all Campco branches in the near future.
Strong performance in FY 2024–25
Presenting the financial results, Mr. Kodgi announced that Campco recorded a profit of ₹51.8 crore in the fiscal year 2024–25. The cooperative declared an 8% dividend for its members.
During the same period, Campco sold 65,675 metric tonnes of arecanut valued at ₹2,825 crore. These figures underline Campco’s pivotal role in stabilising prices and providing marketing support to arecanut growers across Karnataka and Kerala.
With plans for its own organic fertiliser production unit, the launch of a farmer-centric app, and expansion of soil testing centres, Campco is broadening its services to meet the evolving needs of arecanut farmers. Its strong financial performance further strengthens its position as a key player in the agricultural cooperative sector. These initiatives are expected to bring long-term benefits to growers by reducing costs, improving productivity, and ensuring fair returns.
