Training
ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS IN AGRICULTURE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF WTO AND OTHER PTAs-
The programme was organized in two phases. One during November, 2011 at Thiruvananthapuram and another at Thrissur during January 2012.Officers from the Department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Soil Survey, Soil Conservation and Scientists from Kerala Agricultural University attended the programme.
The Seminar at Thiruvananthapuram was inaugurated by the then Additional Chief Secretary & Agricultural Production Commissioner Sri. K Jayakumar, IAS.
The second seminar at College of Horticulture , Vellanikkara, Kerala Agricultural University was inaugurated by Dr K R Viswambharan, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, KAU Challenges in the international trade scenario in the post globalization period were analyzed and its impact on Kerala’s agriculture and ways and means to enhance competitiveness of Kerala’s agriculture were discussed
TRAINING PROGRAMME ON HEDGING FOR PRICE RISK MANAGEMENT
Futures Markets have been organized and run by the Government with the main intention to aid efficient price discovery. Though the role of speculators in the Futures Trading and their manipulations leading to price fluctuations is heavily debated, hedging has been accepted as a mechanism to cover price risks. Major spices of Kerala like black pepper, cardamom, coffee, turmeric etc are being traded in the commodity exchanges. However farmers as well as extension functionaries are largely unaware of the techniques of trading as well as hedging. Hence the training programme in futures trading with focus on “Hedging as a price risk management tool” was imparted to farmer groups to equip them to trade in futures markets either for selling their produce or for hedging. Two capacity building programmes for farmers of Idukki district were organized by the WTO Cell, Government of Kerala with technical assistance from the National Multi Commodity Exchange (NMCE). on 21-3-2012. and 22-3-2012.
CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME ON “AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES TRADING IN FUTURES MARKET”
A two day capacity building programme on “Agricultural Commodities Trading in Futures Market” was conducted in association with the Forward Market Commission,Govt.of India for the officials of the Department of Agriculture on 1-8-2012 and 2-8-2012 at Thiruvananthapuram. The objective of the programme was to enhance the capacity of the officials of the Department in the commodities trading in Futures market. Understanding the mechanisms in trading will help the officials to guide the various stakeholders to utilize the Futures trading to minimize the price risk in various agricultural commodities. Technical and financial support for the programme was provided FMC and NMCE. Dr. E. Mathisekharan, Member FMC and Sri.Anil Mishra, MD, NMCE handled the technical sessions.
