Workshops and Seminars
WORKSHOP ON GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION AND USER REGISTRATION
A one day Workshop on GI and user registration was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara on September 2, 2011 with organizational support from IPR Cell, KAU.The workshop was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of the Kerala Agricultural University, Dr K R Viswambharan.
Kerala has so far obtained geographical indications in 20 products of which 10 are agricultural products. They are Navara rice, Palakkadan matta rice, Malabar pepper, Alleppey Green cardamom, Pokali rice, Vazhakkulam Pineapple, Monsooned Malabar Coffee, Central Travancore Jaggery, Wayanad Jeerakasala rice and Wayanad Gandhakasala rice. Representatives of all the GI registered agricultural commodities, farmers, traders, scientists, extension personnel and students participated in the Workshop. The WTO Cell facilitated and funded eight groups for user registration in four agricultural products.
WORKSHOP ON “SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN THE SPICES SECTOR”
Spices are a major foreign exchange earner for the country. Though the share of spice crops in total export earnings of the country has declined drastically, it continues to play a major role in the total agricultural exports of the country. The spices sector also assumes significance in the current scenario of “inclusive development and growth” due to the presence of a large number of small and marginal farmers, female labourers and cultivation in backward and ecologically fragile areas. Hence the workshop was conducted under the joint aegis of the WTO Cell, Spices Board and the World Spice Organization. Among the major spices, black pepper, cardamom, ginger, turmeric and nutmeg are of significance to the Kerala economy and the workshop concentrated on these five major spice crops.
Dr. A. Jayathilak, IAS, Chairman, Spices Board formally inaugurated the Workshop held on 20th January 2012. The programme was attended by 160 representatives of farmers, traders, industry people, scientists, officers from the Department of Agriculture and the media.
The workshop chalked out strategies to ensure steady high yield and better quality among five major spices (black pepper, cardamom, ginger, turmeric and nutmeg) with high export potential. The workshop focused on boosting spices production by securing high quality planting and seed material, overcoming soil related constraints, dealing with devastating diseases and assuring stable price for the produce.Scientists and experts from Kerala Agricultural University, Indian Institute of Spices Research, World Spices Organisation and Spices Board led the technical sessions on field problems and research interventions. Constraints and opportunities from the farmer’s perspective were also discussed.
CONFERENCE ON AGRO BASED INDUSTRIES
The conference conducted on 5 July 2012 at SAMETI Thiruvananthapuram was inaugurated by the Hon. Minister for Agriculture Sri.K.P.Mohanan. The objective of the programme was to bring various agro based industries in the state to a single platform and to discuss with them the ways to increase the share in Agricultural trade. Value addition of the important agricultural crops was also discussed. The conference attended by 40 industry representatives 20 officials including representatives of Government as well as various Financial institutions served as a platform for exchanging the ideas between various stake holders of the agro industry..
STATE LEVEL AWARENESS PROGRAMME ON PROTECTION OF PLANT VARIETIES AND FARMERS RIGHTS ACT
A state level awareness programme on the Protection of Plant varieties and farmers Rights Act was conducted at CTCRI ,Sreekaryam,Thiruvananthapuram on 20-11-2012.The programme was funded by the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority,New Delhi .The objective of the programme was to create an awareness of the PPV&FR Act among the Farmers, Scientists, Government Officials, and students .It was attended by 200 persons. An exhibition on plant varieties was also arranged.Technical sessions were handled by experts from PPV&FRA and the Kerala Agricultural University. The Pokkali farmers and the Wayanad Tribal Development Action Council who received the 2010-11 Plant Genome Savior Community Award were also facilitated in the function.
NATIONAL SEMINAR ON WTO,FTAs AND IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE AND ALLIED SECTORS
A two day national seminar on WTO,FTAs and impact on Agriculture and Allied sectors was conducted by WTO Cell in association with Kerala Agricultural University on 17th and 18th January,2013 at Thiruvananthapuram. The Seminar inagurated by the Director of Agriculture Sri R.Ajith kumar was attended by invited persons from various institutions in the country. Presentation of research as well review papers were done by experts from agriculture and allied sectors.
