Considering the demand for choco chips from industrial segment, the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative Ltd (Campco) is planning to increase its production capacity for choco chips by February, said Campco MD M Suresh Bhandary.
Speaking during the DH-PV during phone-in programme on Monday, he said there is good demand for choco chips from inudstries and is used for sprinkling as a toppings on biscuits, cakes and ice creams. Further, the new machinery will have a capacity to produce 10 tonnes of choco chips in different shapes per day with 300 tonne per month. “We have already placed an order with Turkey-based company, for the new machinery. It will reach Mangaluru in January. The target is to commission the new choco chips plant by February. It costs Rs 5 crore.”
At present, the choco chips line at Puttur chocolate factory is being used to its full capacity of 75 tonnes a month,
The MD said that there was good demand for the kiosk opened by the Campco, at Puttur to offer all varieties of its chocolates under one roof to the customers. About Rs 5 lakh worth chocolates are sold at the kiosk per month. Visitors and schoolchildren who visit the chocolate factory on Saturday, also visit this kiosk to purchase varieties of chocolates. There are plans to set up such a kiosk at Badiadka. “We are looking for land in Mangaluru to set up a kiosk as well,” he added.
The vagaries of nature has affected the cocoa and pepper production during the year. The wet cocoa beans price has reached Rs 65 per kg. However, the arrivals is very less as the crop has failed due to heavyrain.
Campco president S R Sathischandra said that the Campco will venture into coconut business shortly. “The Board of the Campco has approved its venture into coconut business. We are studying the feasibility of the plans by interacting with various stakeholders. The Campco is also looking into the land for setting up its plant to produce coconut powder, coconut milk, virgin coconut oil and so on.
He said that during the recently held Niti Ayog conference, Campco had shared the success story of a co-operative in the agro-processing area based on trust and commitment to its grower members and its initiatives in export oriented and value added agro-processing ventures like chocolate, pepper and soon into coconut processing etc. He opined that the interaction with Niti Ayog would go a long way in developing a framework of development of the co-operatives on a national level.