Mangaluru: Strong performance driven by farmer support, procurement, business expansion and digital initiatives

The Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative Limited (CAMPCO) has recorded a strong performance during 2025-26, achieving a total business turnover of ₹3,735 crore and Profit Before Tax of ₹49.62 crore, despite volatility in the arecanut market and challenging conditions in the cocoa sector.

Reflecting its continued financial strength and commitment to grower-members, the Board of Directors has recommended a 14% dividend for the year.

The performance was supported by sustained procurement and marketing operations, farmer-oriented initiatives, business diversification, digital transformation and investments in infrastructure and value addition.

ARECANUT – THE BACKBONE OF CAMPCO’S BUSINESS

Arecanut continues to be the backbone of CAMPCO and its core business activity. During 2025-26, CAMPCO procured 58,742.76 MT of arecanut valued at ₹2,924.32 crore, comprising 24,052.07 MT of red arecanut and 34,690.69 MT of white arecanut.

The Co-operative sold 59,088.64 MT valued at ₹2,985.19 crore, comprising 22,914.53 MT of red and 36,174.11 MT of white arecanut.

Through its extensive procurement and marketing network, CAMPCO continued to provide growers with a dependable marketing platform, support market stability and facilitate better value realisation.

Concern Over Imported Arecanut

CAMPCO has expressed serious concern over the increasing inflow of imported arecanut and its impact on domestic growers and organised marketing institutions.

Of particular concern is the mixing of imported arecanut with domestic produce and its circulation as domestic produce, which affects traceability, market transparency and price discovery, besides putting pressure on domestic prices.

CAMPCO has urged the Government to strengthen monitoring of imports, enforce import regulations effectively, prevent misclassification and take appropriate measures to prevent imported arecanut from being mixed with or passed off as domestic produce.

The matter was recently brought to the attention of Hon’ble Union Home Minister Sri Amit Shah during CAMPCO’s meeting in New Delhi, where CAMPCO sought coordinated measures to safeguard domestic arecanut growers.

Mandi Tax in Uttar Pradesh

CAMPCO has also taken up the issue of Mandi Tax on arecanut transactions in Uttar Pradesh, which increases the cost of inter-State trade.

The matter was brought to the attention of Hon’ble Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, keeping in view the principle of “One Nation, One Tax”. CAMPCO has also met the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh regarding the Mandi Tax.  It has been referred to the concerned Officials of the State Government.  The matter remains under consideration.

CAMPCO will continue to pursue policy measures aimed at ensuring a fair, transparent and stable market for domestic arecanut growers.

COCOA & CHOCOLATE BUSINESS

CAMPCO continued to strengthen its cocoa and chocolate operations despite volatility in cocoa prices.

The Chocolate Factory recorded 12,606.40 MT of production, while cocoa and chocolate products recorded sales of ₹488.65 crore, including exports. The premium CAMPCO chocolate range is now available at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru.

A new refiner has been installed, and procurement of an additional cocoa butter press is in progress, at a total project cost of ₹12.00 crore.

As part of the capacity enhancement, the cocoa butter press  facility has been facilitated with 18 pots increasing the cocoa Mass  processing  capacity by  additional 15MTs/day for our Butter requirement.

RUBBER & PEPPER

CAMPCO continued its support to plantation growers through procurement and marketing of rubber and pepper, procuring 1,704.77 MT of rubber and 1,656.12 MT of pepper during the year.

FARMER SUPPORT & WELFARE

CAMPCO continued its farmer-centric initiatives through:

  • Distribution of 1,16,275 cocoa seedlings at subsidised rates.
  • Distribution of 357.27 MT Copper Sulphate at subsidised rates.
  • Sale of 5,181.93 MT branded agricultural inputs.
  • Financial assistance of ₹86.42 lakh to 120 beneficiaries under member benefit schemes.
  • Growers’ Meets and mobile soil testing services.

EXPANSION OF PROCUREMENT NETWORK

To bring services closer to growers, CAMPCO established new procurement centres at Ripponpet, Chelur and Sarpady and commenced operations at new independent branches at Mathamangalam and Tiptur.

MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

CAMPCO is strengthening its infrastructure to improve storage, procurement and farmer services.

  • Shivamogga: Proposed 30,000 sq. ft. godown with capacity of approximately one lakh bags.
  • Chennagiri: Grading hall under construction.
  • Ponkunnam: Branch upgraded for pepper processing.
  • Vittal: Proposed 30,000 sq. ft. office-cum-godown complex on 91 cents of land acquired by CAMPCO.
  • Dharapuram: Planning is underway for an 8,000 sq. ft. godown with a storage capacity of 550 MT of cocoa dry beans. The facility currently has 11 drying yards with a combined drying capacity of 165 MT of cocoa wet beans. To further enhance the facility, four additional drying yards spread over 28,500 sq. ft. are being planned, which will provide an additional drying capacity of 60 MT for cocoa wet beans.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

CAMPCO Kisan Mitra, App integrated with the ERP system, provides members access to information and services including dividend, incentives, deposits, loans, market rates and procurement.

CAMPCO CART, the Co-operative’s online shopping platform, enables customers across India to purchase CAMPCO products directly.

EXPORTS & MARKET EXPANSION

CAMPCO has become a Member of National Co-operative Exports Limited (NCEL), strengthening its efforts towards expanding international markets.

During the year, CAMPCO exported 130 MT of premium Indian arecanut to the Maldives, besides exporting drinking chocolate powder and industrial cocoa products.

CAMPCO also participated in the Gulfood Festival, Dubai, providing a platform to showcase its products and explore new opportunities in international markets.

RESEARCH & FARMER-ORIENTED INITIATIVES

CAMPCO continues to support scientific research addressing emerging challenges in the arecanut sector. A multidisciplinary initiative is being undertaken for the arecanut ecosystem in Karnataka and Kerala.

The mobile soil testing facility at Puttur is helping growers adopt more scientific farm management practices.

MEMBERSHIP & FINANCIAL STRENGTH

CAMPCO’s membership stood at 1,53,794 as on 31 March 2026. Paid-up share capital stood at ₹66.27 crore, while Reserve Fund and Other Funds together stood at ₹545.57 crore.

CAMPCO’s credit ratings were reassigned as CRISIL A (Stable) for long-term borrowings and CRISIL A1 for short-term borrowings.

GREEN ENERGY

Renewable energy remains a key focus area for CAMPCO. Existing wind power units meet around56.81% of the Chocolate Factory’s energy requirement, while the500 KW solar project at Puttur generated 4.79 lakh unitsduring the year. A further 580 KW rooftop solar project is under progress, expected to meet an additional 8–9% of the energy requirement. CAMPCO is also planning to procure approximately15 lakh units of power through Open Access.

STORAGE INFRASTRUCTURE AT CAMPCO CHOCOLATE FACTORY

CAMPCO is planning to construct a Standard Cool Room with an additional storage capacity of 450MT for finished goods, strengthening its storage and inventory management infrastructure.

FOUNDER’S CENTENARY

The birth centenary of Late Sri Varanasi Subraya Bhat, Founder Member and Founder President of CAMPCO, was commemorated on 8 June 2026 at the CAMPCO Chocolate Factory, Puttur. The year-long commemorative programme “CAMPCO Brahma – Shatanamana” was inaugurated as a tribute to his contribution to the cooperative movement and the growth of CAMPCO.

As part of the celebrations, “CAMPCO Krishi Ranga” was organised on Akashvani Mangaluru, featuring eminent agricultural experts who provide awareness on modern and best farming practices, along with the experiences and success stories of CAMPCO growers.

INTERNATIONAL ARECANUT CONFERENCE 2027

CAMPCO is organising the International Arecanut Conference 2027 on 16th and 17th January 2027 at Hotel Ocean Pearl, Mangaluru. The conference will bring together international resource persons, researchers, experts, growers and other stakeholders from the arecanut sector.

The conference will provide an international platform for deliberations on scientific developments, emerging challenges, technology, value addition and the future of the arecanut sector, with a focus on strengthening the interests of growers and promoting sustainable growth of the sector.

THE ROAD AHEAD

During 2026-27, CAMPCO will focus on:

Strengthening farmer services and procurement | Expanding infrastructure and markets |Increasing value addition and product development | Strengthening chocolate and plantation crop businesses | Expanding digital services | Promoting research and sustainable agriculture | Expanding domestic and international markets

CAMPCO’S COMMITMENT

With over 1.53 lakh grower-members, a wide procurement and marketing network and diversified business operations, CAMPCO remains committed to its core cooperative objective of protecting the interests of growers and ensuring better value realisation for their produce.

S.R.SATHISHCHANDRA, PRESIDENT WITH THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT, THE CAMPCO LTD.