Mangaluru: Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Limited will conduct a five-day training programme on areca palm climbing from December 5 at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute’s (CPCRI) regional station in Vitla.

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Campco president S.R. Satishchandra said there was a need for persons trained in climbing areca and coconut palms in Dakshina Kannada and Kasaragod.

Impressed with the training conducted by University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (UAHS), Shivamogga, in Thirthahalli for 35 youths, Campco has come out with the five-day programme. Personnel trained in Thirthahalli were already earning ₹1,200 per day, he said.

Mr. Satishchandra said the programme, to start with, will focus on climbing areca plams. A trainer, each from Karnataka and Kerala, will conduct it for those between 18 and 35 years. Apart from training, the trainees will get a rope, a helmet and other safety accessories by UAHS.

Campco will pay a premium of ₹2,000 per trainee towards life insurance. CPCRI will certify the trainees, who will get identity cards at the end of the training.

The Campco president said the trainees will get a stipend of ₹500 per day. They will get free food and accommodation at the centre. So far 15 people have applied and more are expected to take part, he said..

The programme was being conducted by Campco in association with CPCRI, UAHS, Department of Horticulture, Arecanut Research and Development Foundation, Adike Patrike and the All-India Areca Growers’ Association, he added.