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Report on Farmers Training conducted at KVK, Pathanamthitta on 23-09-2011

Introduction

Pathanamthitta was formed in the year 1982. It is the youngest district in Kerala. It is a

landlocked district, located at 9°16′N 76°47′E / 9.27°N 76.78°E, spanning over an area of 2,637

square kilometers.The district is bound in the West by Alappuzha, in the North by Kottayam and

Idukki, in the South by Kollam, and Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu in the East. There are Sixty

Eight Revenue Villages in the district. There are Nine Blocks in the district. They are Parakode,

Pandalam, Kulanada, Elanthoor, Konni, Mallappally, Ranni, Koipuram and Pulikkeezhu. Kerala's

three largest rivers, viz., River Pamba, River Achankovil and River Manimala flow through the

district. The district can be divided into three natural geographical regions: the highland, the

midland and the lowland. The highland stretches through the Western Ghats, where the hills are tall

and covered with thick forests. Western Ghats maintains an average altitude of around 800 m. It

descends to the smaller hills of midland in the centre and finally to the lowland. The Christian

Agency for Rural Development (CARD) Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Pathanamthitta is located

at Thadiyoor, near Pullad which is a predominantly agricultural area.

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Table 1 gives an overview of the agrarian backdrop of the district. Crops like rubber,

coconut, banana, pepper and rice occupy a significant share in the cropping pattern. It was against

this background, that a farmers’ training programme was jointly organized by the Agricultural

Market Intelligence Centre, Kerala Agricultural University, Trichur and the KVK, Pathanamthitta

at Thadiyoor on 23rd

September 2011. This was the fifth farmers’ training organized by the

Agricultural Market Intelligence Centre during the project year 2011-12.

Table 1. Cropping Pattern and Agricultural Production in Pathanamthitta

Area and Production of Major Crops in Pathanamthitta District

Products

Area under

cultivation

(ha)

Production

(tones)

Rice 2001 4631

Pepper 3934 1191

Areca nut 1696 593

Cashew nut 893 303

Banana 4642 39747

Coconut 17903 107 (million nuts)

Rubber 49860 73690

Cardamom 664 6

Total Cultivated Area 106706

(Source: Farm Guide 2010)

Plate 1. The participants registering for the training programme

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Plate 1. Welcome Address by Dr. Sindhu Sadanandan, Subject Matter Specialist (Agrl. Extension)

Plate 3. Presidential Address by Dr. C.P.Roberts, Programme Co-ordinator, KVK Pathanamthitta

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The inaugural session commenced with Dr. Sindhu Sadanandan, Subject Matter Specialist

(Agrl. Extension) of KVK, Pathanamthitta welcoming the gathering. The function was presided

over by Dr. C.P.Roberts, Programme Coordinator of KVK, Pathanamthitta. Rev. Dr. Sabu

Philip.E., Director, CARD inaugurated the training programme. The inaugural session concluded

with Dr. Satheesh Babu formally proposing the vote of thanks to the organizers and participants.

Plate 4. Rev. Dr. Sabu Philip, Director ,CARD delivering the inaugural address

This was followed by the technical sessions. In the first technical session, Dr. Satheesh

Babu, Professor & CCPI of the Centre handled the topic on “Changing Market Environment: Issues

and Strategies”. The new threats faced by Indian agriculture on account of the ongoing

globalization and liberalization process were flagged. The need for switching over from selling of

commodities to marketing of finished products for survival in such a changed scenario was

highlighted. In view of small scale production by small holders, group based approaches for

organized marketing of low marketable surplus through product development and diversification as

a strategy to overcome the disadvantages of scale economy was highlighted with success stories. In

the second technical session, “The Role of Agricultural Market Intelligence in Info Rich

Agriculture” was emphasized. The difference between market information and intelligence was

explained to the farmers with examples. This was followed by the importance of reliable, regionally

specific agricultural market intelligence in view of increasing price volatility of agricultural

commodities, especially export oriented cash crops like pepper, cardamom and coconut. The

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Plate 4. Dr. K. Satheesh Babu handling the Technical Sessions

Plate 5. The interactive session in progress

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various activities of the Centre and its outreach activities were also explained in detail. The latest

price forecast messages and their rationale were narrated.

The procedure of sending voice message through the tie up with IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Ltd.

was also explained. The latest Voice Messages by IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Ltd. were aired for the

sake of the participants. All the latest price intelligence reports on pepper and coconut along with

the paper clippings and publicity materials were distributed to the participants.

Plate 6. More feedbacks from the women participants

This was followed by the feedback session. During the feedback, the participants were

encouraged to clarify their doubts. Many farmers expressed their happiness at Kerala Agricultural

University undertaking such a new initiative. However, they wanted the price forecasting

mechanism to be extended to other locally important crops like vanilla, rubber etc. There was a

view that if such a mechanism was in vogue, the recent crisis in vanilla crop could have been

averted. Dr.K.Satheesh Babu explained that the MoU with the Indian Council of Agricultural

Research was currently confined to coconut, pepper and cardamom crops in the initial phase. These

points could be considered in the next phase of the programme.

In all, 50 farmers attended the training programme. Refreshments, intersession tea and lunch

were provided to all participants during the session. The list and address are furnished as appendix.