KUNDAPURA: Seeking seamless transit operations for legal agricultural cargo passing through western corridors, a high-level delegation of parliamentarians and cooperative leaders led by Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi today. The delegation submitted a comprehensive memorandum requesting immediate intervention to allow the unhindered movement of validly documented arecanut consignments originating from Karnataka.

Demanding swift protective measures for vulnerable arecanut growers and their families, the cooperative network requested the immediate release of multiple commercial shipments currently detained in Maharashtra. Representatives from CAMPCO, MAMCO, and the Federation of Karnataka State Arecanut Marketing Cooperative Societies collectively urged the establishment of a transparent transit protocol to prevent operational disruption to livelihoods.

The cooperative delegation representing major South Indian growers was spearheaded by Shivamogga MP Raghavendra. The team comprised key office-bearers representing the Malnad Arecanut Marketing Cooperative Society Ltd. (MAMCO), the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative Ltd. (CAMPCO), Totagars’ Cooperative Sale Society, and other major apex marketing unions of coastal and malnad regions.

The delegation apprised the Maharashtra Chief Minister that the protracted detention of verified commercial stocks had generated severe financial distress for growers across extensive belts of South India. They highlighted that over 50 large transport trucks transporting valid arecanut stock towards North Indian consumer hubs were systematically intercepted and seized at various transit terminals by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorities, despite carrying flawless documentation.

Stating the community’s concerns during the high-level meeting, MP Raghavendra emphasized that Karnataka accounts for more than 70% of India’s domestic arecanut cultivation, serving as the economic backbone for millions of families. He explained that the detained trucks hold flawless statutory credentials, including valid GST invoices and registered e-way bills, and were merely using Maharashtra’s highway infrastructure as a transit corridor to reach northern states.

Cooperative heads pointed out that artificial market holding of products affects regional trading prices, placing an unfair financial burden on farmers and credit unions. The delegation strongly urged the Chief Minister to pass emergency clearance orders for the stranded trucks and institute a time-bound framework to guarantee that future consignments managed by institutional state cooperatives face no administrative delays. Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary, Mangaluru MP Captain Brijesh Chowta, and Thirthahalli MLA Araga Jnanendra were prominently present during the strategic meeting.

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