The Hindu Business Line : Campco to help other coops boost copper sulphate output

The copper sulphate unit of Campco does not come under the small-scale industries sector as the co-operative has a big chocolate unit attached to it.

A.J. Vinayak

Mangalore, Nov 25 The Mangalore-based Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative Ltd (Campco) is planning to encourage other small co-operatives in the region to tap the good demand for copper sulphate among arecanut growers.

It will provide its expertise in production and is planning to market the product.

The Campco President, Mr S.R. Rangamurthy, told Business Line that the co-operative had to close down its copper sulphate manufacturing unit at Shimoga because of high Central excise duty and other overheads.

Output Capacity

The unit’s production capacity was 300 tonnes of copper sulphate a year.

The copper sulphate unit of Campco does not come under the small-scale industries sector as the co-operative has a big chocolate unit attached to it.

As a result, the copper sulphate manufacturing unit was not able to avail itself of the tax benefits given to small firms.

New units

“Five to six small co-operatives from Uppinangady, Punacha and Idkidu in Dakshina Kannada district have in-principle agreed to set up a unit with a share capital of Rs 10 lakh each. Our role will be to market the product. Added to this, we will give our expertise in the production of copper sulphate,” he said.

Two such manufacturing units are likely to come up under the co-operative sector at Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district and Thirthahalli in Shimoga district. Preliminary discussions have been held. There is also a proposal from Thirthahalli in Shimoga district to set up a copper sulphate unit there.

Co-operatives from that region had held a meeting in this regard.

They will have to take a decision in this regard, he said.

During the last flowering season, there was heavy demand for copper sulphate to prevent fruit rot disease in arecanut plantations.

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