Govt to implement new policy to ensure better market rates: Suresh Prabhu

The Central government is working on a new policy to stabilise the volatile market rates and to ensure good prices for produces like pepper, cultivated by local growers, said Union Commerce and Industries Minister Suresh Prabhu.

He was speaking after inaugurating the new amenity building at the Campco Chocolate factory premises in Kemminje, Puttur, on Sunday.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set an objective of doubling the income of the farmers in the next five years. The government will implement a new scheme to provide support for farmers, bearing the expenses of farmers towards export of agricultural products," he said.

"The cooperative sector should be a part of the global market to bring good prospects for farmers. There is a need to lay thrust on agro-processing industries," he added.

Prabhu said Campco has not only empowered farmers as a guiding force but also set a standard in terms of quality, which is evident in the organisation's tie-up with various national and international companies like Amul and Nestle.

Master godown

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel performed the ground-breaking ceremony for a master godown of Campco at Kavu near Puttur-Sullia road, which is planned on a one-lakh square-foot site at a cost of Rs 20 crore to store areca, rubber and pepper, along with cold storage for pepper, processing and packing units. The project will be realised in two years.

Puttur MLA Shakuntala Shetty launched the new product from Campco a premium gift box containing assorted chocolates with Milk Marvel (milk chocolate), Dietier (sugar-free dark chocolate), Fun Tan (dark chocolate) and Milk and Milk (white chocolate with rice crispies).

M Jyotindra Bhai Mehta, Sahakar Bharati national president, The National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies Ltd (NAFCUB) director and Gujarat Urban Cooperative Banks Federation Ltd chairman, who was the guest, said the economic prospects of local growers should get preference. There is a need to establish an Agricultural Chamber of Commerce. Cooperative societies ensuring the feel good factors of policy, product, pricing and people for the success of a cooperative organization should be set up.

Mehta unveiled the bust of Campco founder and former president Varanasi Subraya Bhat on the factory premises.

Campco president S R Satishchandra requested Suresh Prabhu to frame a national policy for the betterment of rubber growers. He said Campco plans to take up the processing of coconut and cashew.

New amenity building

Campco vice president Shankaranarayana Bhat K said the new amenity building on the Campco chocolate factory premises, Puttur, is built at a cost of Rs 13 crore. The establishment is in fulfilment of the ISO and FSSAI standards. The four-storey amenity building is on 42,000 square feet and comprises a parking lot, administrative offices, board meeting hall, kitchen, 150-seat dining hall, 50- seat theatre for visitors, packing unit, warehouse of packed goods and so on. Rainwater harvesting will be implemented at the building.

Zilla Panchayat president Meenakshi Shantigodu, Puttur Taluk Panchayat president Bhavani Chidanand, Town Panchayat president Jayanthi Balnad and Campco managing director Suresh Bhandary M were present on the occasion.