Totgars’ Co-operative Sale Society: Dovetailing Business to Meet Members’ Needs

Gopal Naik and Gopi Sankar Gopikuttan

Totgars’ Co-operative Sale Society (TSS) is an arecanut marketing co-operative headquartered at Sirsi in Uttara Kannada (UK) district of Karnataka, India. As on March 31st, 2019, it had more than 30,000 members (including both primary agricultural co-operative societies (PACS) and individuals), total turnover of ₹5047.87 million, and net profit of ₹21.03 million. The primary objective of TSS is to undertake the marketing of the agricultural produce of its members. It has several other objectives that have direct or indirect bearing on the lives of arecanut growers in UK district. The key activities of TSS could be broadly classified into those which are directly related to arecanut marketing and the support services. Activities directly related to arecanut marketing include managing the sale yard in a regulated market, trading arecanut, manufacturing value-added products, and providing storage facilities. Support services include credit, agri-inputs, extension services, animal husbandry, rice milling, transport facilities, health services, consumer goods, and guest house. The business and service portfolio of TSS is highly diversified. The co-operative balances the interests of various stakeholders such as members, employees, traders, and state agencies. This case presents how TSS integrates various businesses and services to provide benefits to its member farmers, while creating value for other stakeholders. Several lessons can be drawn from the experience of TSS.