JOIN USIf everything goes as per the plan, the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative Limited (CAMPCO) will procure pepper from farmers soon.
A proposal to this effect will be placed in the 41st annual general body meeting of the cooperative, on August 30. The general body’s approval would be sought for amending the cooperative’s bylaws for enabling it to procure pepper, said CAMPCO president Konkodi Padmanabha to Deccan Herald.
Currently CAMPCO, a mutli-state cooperative of Karnataka and Kerala, procures arecanut, rubber and cocoa from farmers.
The annual report for the year 2014-15 of the Campco which has been sent to all its members, has proposed amendments to the bylaw to enable the cooperative to venture into procurement and marketing of pepper. The proposed amendment said “the area of operation of Campco shall extend to the States of Karnataka and Kerala. However, for the purpose of purchase, processing and sale of arecanut, coconut, rubber and pepper and establishment of allied industries and marketing of their products, there shall be no restriction on area of operation. The amendment is to procure arecanut, cocoa, rubber and pepper from the members and if necessary from other growers on agency basis, or on outright purchase basis or through self help groups,” it said.
The proposed amendment to the bylaw in marketing activities said “arranging sale of arecanut, cocoa, rubber and pepper, either raw or in any processed form shall be the principal activity of the Campco. The Campco shall do the business for the purpose of marketing and procuring of goods from its members. However, in the interest of members, to maintain market, it can procure from non-member growers also. The procurement will normally be handled through affiliated cooperative societies handling arecanut, cocoa, rubber and pepper,” it added.
The president said “the pepper is a main subsidiary crop grown by the areca growers of the coastal belt and the Malnad areas. In case, if the arecanut price crashes, then the farmers should be able to lead a dignified life growing pepper. Hence, the campco has been promoting pepper as a sub-crop along with the areca. The proposal to procure pepper by the Campco will help its members,” he explained.
“After getting approval from the members in the AGM of the Campco, we will start procuring pepper. Procurement centres will be identified. As the Campco already has procurement centres for arecanut, cocoa and rubber, it need not invest afresh to create facilities for pepper,” he said.