CAMPCO records Rs 3,735 crore turnover, Rs 49.62 crore profit; 14% dividend recommended

CAMPCO records Rs 3,735 crore turnover, Rs 49.62 crore profit; 14% dividend recommended

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, September 11, 2026: The Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative Limited (CAMPCO) recorded a total business turnover of ₹3,735 crore and Profit Before Tax (PBT) of ₹49.62 crore during 2025-26, despite volatility in the arecanut market and challenging conditions in the cocoa sector.

The CAMPCO Board of Directors has recommended a 14% dividend for the year, citing the cooperative’s financial performance and continued focus on the interests of its grower-members.

The performance was supported by sustained procurement and marketing operations, farmer-oriented initiatives, diversification of business, digital services, infrastructure development and value addition.

Arecanut Remains Core Business

Arecanut continued to account for the major share of CAMPCO’s business. During 2025-26, the cooperative procured 58,742.76 metric tonnes (MT) of arecanut valued at ₹2,924.32 crore.

This included 24,052.07 MT of red arecanut and 34,690.69 MT of white arecanut. CAMPCO 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.

CAMPCO said its procurement and marketing network continued to provide growers with a dependable platform for marketing their produce while supporting market stability and better value realisation.

Concern Over Imported Arecanut

CAMPCO has raised concerns over the increasing inflow of imported arecanut and its impact on domestic growers and organised marketing institutions.

The cooperative has particularly flagged the alleged mixing of imported arecanut with domestic produce and its circulation as domestic produce. According to CAMPCO, such practices affect traceability, market transparency and price discovery and put pressure on domestic prices.

It has urged the government to strengthen monitoring of imports, enforce regulations, prevent misclassification and take measures to ensure imported arecanut is not mixed with or passed off as domestic produce.

CAMPCO said the issue was raised during a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, where it sought coordinated measures to protect domestic arecanut growers.

Mandi Tax Issue

CAMPCO has also taken up the issue of mandi tax on arecanut transactions in Uttar Pradesh, stating that the levy increases the cost of inter-State trade.

The matter was raised with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. CAMPCO said the issue has been referred to the concerned state government officials and remains under consideration.

Cocoa and Chocolate Business

CAMPCO continued to expand its cocoa and chocolate operations amid fluctuations in global cocoa prices.

Its Chocolate Factory recorded 12,606.40 MT of production, while sales of cocoa and chocolate products, including exports, amounted to ₹488.65 crore.

CAMPCO’s premium chocolate range is now available at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.

A new refiner has been installed, while procurement of an additional cocoa butter press is under way as part of a ₹12 crore project. The cocoa butter press facility has also been equipped with 18 pots, increasing cocoa mass processing capacity by an additional 15 MT per day.

Rubber and Pepper Procurement

CAMPCO continued its support to plantation growers through procurement and marketing of rubber and pepper.

During the year, it procured 1,704.77 MT of rubber and 1,656.12 MT of pepper.

Farmer Support Initiatives

The cooperative undertook several farmer-oriented initiatives during the year, including:

Distribution of 1,16,275 cocoa seedlings at subsidised rates.
Distribution of 357.27 MT of copper sulphate at subsidised rates.
Sale of 5,181.93 MT of branded agricultural inputs.
Financial assistance of ₹86.42 lakh to 120 beneficiaries under member benefit schemes.
Organisation of growers’ meets and mobile soil-testing services.
Expansion of Procurement Network

CAMPCO established new procurement centres at Ripponpet, Chelur and Sarpady to bring its services closer to growers.

It also commenced operations at new independent branches at Mathamangalam and Tiptur.

Infrastructure Development

CAMPCO is undertaking several infrastructure projects aimed at improving storage, procurement and farmer services.

At Shivamogga, it has proposed a 30,000 sq ft godown with a capacity of approximately one lakh bags. A grading hall is under construction at Chennagiri, while the Ponkunnam branch has been upgraded for pepper processing.

At Vittal, CAMPCO has proposed a 30,000 sq ft office-cum-godown complex on 91 cents of land acquired by the cooperative.

At Dharapuram, plans are under way for an 8,000 sq ft godown with storage capacity for 550 MT of cocoa dry beans. The facility currently has 11 drying yards with a combined capacity of 165 MT of cocoa wet beans. Four additional drying yards spread across 28,500 sq ft are also planned, adding 60 MT of drying capacity.

Digital Services

CAMPCO’s Kisan Mitra app, integrated with its ERP system, provides members access to information and services relating to dividends, incentives, deposits, loans, market rates and procurement.

Its online shopping platform, CAMPCO CART, enables customers across India to purchase CAMPCO products directly.

Exports and Market Expansion

CAMPCO has become a member of the National Co-operative Exports Limited (NCEL) as part of its efforts to expand international markets.

During 2025-26, it exported 130 MT of premium Indian arecanut to the Maldives, besides exporting drinking chocolate powder and industrial cocoa products.

The cooperative also participated in the Gulfood Festival in Dubai to showcase its products and explore international market opportunities.

Research and Grower Support

CAMPCO continues to support scientific research into 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 also helping growers adopt more scientific farm-management practices.

Membership and Financial Strength

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

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

Focus on Renewable Energy

Renewable energy continues to be a focus area for CAMPCO. Its existing wind power units meet around 56.81% of the Chocolate Factory’s energy requirement.

The 500 KW solar power project at Puttur generated 4.79 lakh units during the year. A further 580 KW rooftop solar project is under way and is expected to meet an additional 8–9% of the factory’s energy requirement.

CAMPCO is also planning to procure around 15 lakh units of electricity through open access.

Additional Storage at Chocolate Factory

CAMPCO is planning to construct a standard cool room with an additional storage capacity of 450 MT for finished goods at its Chocolate Factory, strengthening its storage and inventory management facilities.

Founder’s Birth Centenary

The birth centenary of late Varanasi Subraya Bhat, founder member and founder president of CAMPCO, was commemorated on June 8, 2026, at the CAMPCO Chocolate Factory in Puttur.

A year-long commemorative programme, “CAMPCO Brahma – Shatanamana,” was inaugurated as a tribute to his contribution to the cooperative movement and CAMPCO.

As part of the celebrations, “CAMPCO Krishi Ranga” was organised on Akashvani Mangaluru, featuring agricultural experts discussing modern farming practices and the experiences and success stories of CAMPCO growers.

International Arecanut Conference 2027

CAMPCO will organise the International Arecanut Conference 2027 on January 16 and 17, 2027, at Hotel Ocean Pearl in Mangaluru.

The conference is expected to bring together international resource persons, researchers, experts, growers and other stakeholders from the arecanut sector.

Discussions will focus on scientific developments, emerging challenges, technology, value addition and the future of the sector, with emphasis on grower interests and sustainable growth.

Focus Areas for 2026-27

During 2026-27, CAMPCO plans to focus on strengthening farmer services and procurement, expanding infrastructure and markets, increasing value addition and product development, strengthening its chocolate and plantation crop businesses, expanding digital services, promoting research and sustainable agriculture, and widening domestic and international markets.

With more than 1.53 lakh grower-members, a wide procurement and marketing network and diversified business operations, CAMPCO said it remains committed to protecting growers’ interests and ensuring better value realisation for their produce.

S.R. Sathishchandra, President, CAMPCO, issued the performance statement along with the Board of Management.