JOIN USCampco may start processing rubber soon
Speaking to Deccan Herald, CAMPCO President Konkodi Padmanabha said that the Co-operative has already started rubber procurement from Kadaba, Nintikallu, Alankar and Uppinangady in Karnataka from last week.
The procurement of rubber from Parappa and Mulleria in Kasargod district of Kerala will start from October 14.
Campco, which deals with the procurement of arecanut and cocoa and its marketing, ventured into rubber procurement at Bandadka in Kerala recently.
The co-operative has got licenses from the Rubber Board to operate in Karnataka and Kerala. With the new six centres, the number of Campco centres purchasing rubber will go up to seven.
He said most of the arecanut growers in Karnataka and Kerala have taken up rubber cultivation to boost their farm income. Campco has infrastructure for purchasing rubber. The same infrastructure can be used for the rubber business also. The move to include rubber in Campco’s business will help the grower-members to sell their produce, he added.
Campco’s 34th annual general meeting on September 20, 2008 had given its approval for the co-operative to venture into the rubber business.
Later, Campco changed the bylaw of the co-operative to include rubber in its procurement list and took permission from the Central Registrar of Cooperatives to procure rubber.
On marketing of rubber, Padmanabha said “many buyers have already approached us. We want big buyers to purchase our rubber. We have not yet finalised the dealers to purchase rubber from Campco.”
“We will be purchasing rubber based on the market price. By keeping very less margin we will compete with the dealers,” he added.
Expansion
Stating that the Campco will also start procuring rubber from South Kerala, he said at least four to five centres will start procuring rubber in South Kerala soon.
Rubber milk purchase
He said “to make quality rubber, Campco also has plans to procure rubber milk and then process in the future.
In fact, even Rubber Board had suggested us to constitute Rubber Societies and promote rubber through them just like the way, Nandini has started milk societies in the villages,” he added.