Mangalore : CAMPCO President Konkodi Padmanabha has said that areca worth over Rs 1800 crore has been damaged due to Kole disease as well as incessant rains in the state.

Speaking to reporters at the CAMPCO Head office , he said 60 to 70 per cent of arecanut plantations have been damaged in DK, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Kodagu, Shimoga amd Chikmagalur districts due to Kole disease and that the loss has been estimated at Rs 1200 crore. Similarly  25 per cent of plantations have been affected in Birur, Tumkur, Chitradurga and Davangere and the loss put at Rs 600 crore.

Sixty to 70 per cent of areca crops in Kasargod, Kannur, Malappuram, Trissur and Kallikote of Kerala have also been affected, he informed.

He said a delegation of CAMPCO led by representatives of co-operative   organizations, growers and elected representatives had met CM Siddaramaiah on September 6 seeking suitable compensation to affected growers. An appeal has also been made to the CM to himself head a delegation to be taken to the Centre.He said an appeal will also be made to the Kerala CM.

He said the CAMPCO has set up a new chocolate manufacturing  machinery at a cost of Rs 21 crore and that chocolates are being transported to several African nations. CAMPCO is also exporting 780 metric tons of chocolate drink last year and it is expected to touch 1200 metric tons this year, he informed.

Konkodi Padmanabha also informed that the annual general meeting of CAMPCO will be held at Town Hall in Mangalore on September 18.