TIMES NEWS NETWORK Mangaluru: Campco, a farmer-owned multi-state cooperative with more than 1.5 lakh grower members, has urged the Uttar Pradesh govt to consider removing mandi tax on arecanut. The cooperative’s governing body pointed out that arecanut procured from Karnataka is already subjected to APMC cess or market fee at the place of origin, and is again taxed under the mandi system in Uttar Pradesh.Campco president SR Sathishchandra and managing director BV Sathyanarayana stated that they called on Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath at his office in Lucknow on Friday, and discussed issues affecting arecanut farmers and cooperative institutions. During the meeting, the Campco president and MD highlighted the difficulties cooperative organisations face due to the levy of mandi tax on arecanut trade in Uttar Pradesh. Campco has been severely affected by the present tax regime, which has increased the cost of legitimate trade and reduced its competitiveness against unorganised market operators.The Campco has requested the govt of Uttar Pradesh to consider removing mandi tax on arecanut, or alternatively grant exemption to cooperative institutions, besides providing relief from the double incidence of market fee. It was submitted that such measures would strengthen transparent and organised trade channels, protect the interests of lakhs of farmers, and contribute to higher revenue generation through legitimate business activities. The UP chief minister responded positively to the issues raised by the Campco delegation, and assured that the govt would extend all possible support to cooperative institutions and sympathetically examine the concerns presented, he said.The UP CM expressed keen interest in Campco’s activities, and conveyed his desire to visit its chocolate factory at Puttur, he added.
