Activities

Exhibitions

Agriculture Produce Promotional Campaign

A trade promotion activity named “Agriculture Produce Promotional Campaign” has been initiated by WTO Cell with a view to help farmers find better markets and value for their produce through branding, participation in trade fairs etc.

As part of the trade promotion activities an exhibition of GI products was conducted in the Santhigiri Fest 2012

Exhibition of plant varieties

An exhibition of plant varieties was also arranged in conection with the state leval awareness programme on protection of Plant varieties and farmers right at CTCRI,Sreekaryam ,Thiruvananthapuram        

RESEARCH

1. A research project titled “ASEAN-India FTA: Impact on Agriculture and Allied Sectors in Kerala” was carried out by the Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram with funding from the WTO Cell.
    
2. The WTO Cell is funding a research project by the KAU for the GI registration of Tiroor vettila, a unique agricultural product of Malappuram district of Kerala which has high value as an export commodity to foreign countries.

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.

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 20^th 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 17^th  and 18^th 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.