Report on Farmers Training conducted at Nedumkandam on 03-11-2010

Introduction

Sprawling over an area of 5,061 sq. kms, is the biggest district in . The District is marked by undulating hills and valleys. The high ranges vary in altitude from 2500 ft. above mean sea level. Barring a small pocket of midland region in the western portions of taluk, all the remaining areas falling in , Peerumedu and taluks which are entirely highland region. The annual rainfall in the district varies from 2500 to 4250 mms. The district receives plenty of rains from both the South- West monsoon during June-August and the North- East monsoon during October - November. The economy of Idukki is predominantly agricultural, with cardamom, tea, tapioca, rice, pepper, rubber, coconut, coffee, arecanut, ginger, lemon grass and vegetables occupying a major share of the cropping pattern of the district.

It is against this background, that a Farmers’ Training programme was jointly organized by the Agricultural Market Intelligence Centre of Kerala Agricultural University along with VVV Union Farmers’ Club Nedumkandam and Cardamom Research Station, (KAU) at the Block Panchayath Seminar Hall, Nedumkandam on 03-11-10. This was the fifth farmers’ training programme organized by the Agricultural Market Intelligence Centre during the project year 2010-11.

1

In the inaugural ceremony, the gathering was welcomed by Dr K. Satheesh Babu, Professor & CCPI, Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. The function was presided over by Dr. K. Jesy Thomas, Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. The inauguration of the function was done by Sri. G. Muraleedharan, Member, Spices Board. The function was felicitated by Dr. Dhanya M. K, Asst. Professor & Head, Cardamom Research Station, Pampadumpara. The inaugural session concluded with Sri. C. Thomas, Deputy Chairman, VVV Union Farmers’ Club Nedumkandam proposing the vote of thanks.

Plate 1: Farmers Registering for the Training Programme

This was followed by the technical session. Dr. K. Satheesh Babu, Professor & CCPI of the Agricultural Market Intelligence Centre introduced the topic of discussion. The activities undertaken by the consortium on “Establishing and Networking of Agricultural Market Intelligence Centres in ” were highlighted, and the pioneering

2

Plate 2: Welcome Address by Dr. K. Satheesh Babu, Professor & CCPI

Plate 3: Presidential Address by Dr. K. Jesy Thomas, Professor and Head

3

Plate 4:Sri.G. Muraleedharan, Member Spices Board inaugurating the training programme

Plate 5: Felicitation by Dr. Dhanya M.K, Asst. Professor & Head, Cardamom Research Station, Pampadumpara

4

Plate 6: Sri. C. Thomas, Deputy Chairman , VVV Union Farmers’ Club Nedumkandam proposing the Vote of Thanks

efforts by ICAR in institutionalizing such a framework were discussed. The lead role played by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in promoting such a network was underlined. The changing price behaviour of major crops in Kerala was discussed with suitable components like seasonal behaviour, cycles and random variations.

The market intelligence reports released by the NAIP attached to Kerala Agricultural University for pepper, coconut and cardamom were explained and a copy of latest forecasts made for these crops along validations were distributed to the participants. As the majority of the farmers were cardamom farmers, they were provided with a cardamom update with the changes in the arrival and sale pattern of cardamom during 2009-10 season and the current season. The importance of storing cardamom in the peak arrival season was explained for realizing better farm prices.

5 Plate 7: Technical Session by Dr.K.Satheesh Babu

Plate 8: A view of the participants

6

The technical session evoked intense response from the audience as was evidenced by the feed back session. The participants were encouraged to clarify their doubts at the end of the session. The concerns of the farmers were aired at the increasing price volatility of agricultural commodities in the recent past. The contact details of the Centre were given to farmers who were eager to have a continued association with the Centre in future.

Plate 9: Feedback Session in progress

In all, 53 farmers attended the training programme. The list and address are furnished as an appendix.

Refreshments, intersession tea and lunch were provided to all participants during the session. The training programme received wide press coverage. The Malayala Manorama, Deepika and Mangalam, three leading dailies of Kerala covered the event with photos.

7

8