Role of Malnad Areca Marketing Cooperative Society Limited [Mamcos] on The Development of Areca Nut Entrepreneurs: With Special Reference To Shimoga District

Areca nut (areca catechu. L) commonly referred to as betel nut or supari is the most significant commercial plantation crop. India is a traditional areca growing country in the world and it finds place in all religious, social and cultural occasions in the country. Karnataka remains the largest producer of areca nut, followed by Kerala and Assam. In Karnataka, Shimoga district leads the way in both area and production. The present study considers one of the areca nut marketing cooperative societies called MAMCOS Limited, Shimoga to study the role in marketing of areca nut and to examine the facilities offered for the development of areca nut entrepreneurs. The study employs both primary and secondary data. The primary data has been collected from 120 respondents and secondary data is collected from society’s website and yearly publications. The study finds that the society is providing systematic marketing facility for the sale of areca nut and other facilities such as storage facilities, harvest loan, and advance payment on the produce to carry out processing activities. The study discovers that the MAMCOS Limited is a vital organization for empowering areca nut entrepreneurs by providing various financial and marketing support services to promote local and national development of the economy.