The Hindu Business Line : `Campco must hold meetings at major centres'

MR VARANASHI SUBRAYA BHAT — who founded the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd three decades ago to arrest the fall in the prices of arecanut then and to provide stability to the market — has said that the cooperative should consider holding `representative general body' meetings at major centres under its jurisdiction in Karnataka and Kerala.

The multi-State cooperative has around 80,000 members in arecanut-growing areas of Karnataka and Kerala. The growers cannot leave their work and attend the general body meeting held in Mangalore.

It will consume both their time and money.

In such a situation, the cooperative may not get details of the problems of growers and suggestions from them in a single meeting.

The `representative general body' meetings in the major centres under its jurisdiction will help in bringing the problems of the growers to the notice of the governing body. It will also help in the growth of the cooperative, he said.

Mr Bhat, who was recently presented with `Sahakari Ratna' award by IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperative) Ltd, was speaking at the felicitations function organised by Campco, the All-India Areca Growers' Association, and the South Kanara Agriculturists Cooperative Marketing Society in Mangalore on Friday.

He said that the quantity of arecanut produced in an area should be taken into account while allotting directorship in the governing board. Members of all the arecanut-growing areas should be given representation on the board, he said.

Campco has presence in major growing areas such as Dakshina Kannada, Shimoga, Sagar, Sirsi, Yellapur, Bheemasamudra, Chennagiri and Tumkur in Karnataka and Kasaragod and Thrissur in Kerala.

"Campco should not be identified as a cooperative institution belonging to a particular area. It should retain its multi-State cooperative status," he said. Mr Bhat's statement assumes significance at a time when there are plans for the establishment of two more cooperatives — one each in Karnataka and Kerala — for arecanut marketing.

Stressing the need for the growth of cooperative institutions such as Campco for the welfare of arecanut growers, Mr Bhat said the cooperative sector should hold at least 50 per cent share in the arecanut market.

"Then only arecanut can be made sellers' market. Arecanut is a buyers' market now," he said. At present, the cooperative sector has nearly 20 per cent share in the arecanut market.

Mr L.N. Kudoor, Campco President, welcomed the gathering. Mr M. Srinivasa Achar, President of All-India Areca Growers' Association, proposed a vote of thanks.

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