WTO database cell to be set up in State

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 26. The chairman of the State World Trade Organisation (WTO) Commission, Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, has said that a WTO Database Cell will be set up in the State to offer "proactive advice" to farmers and growers on various aspects and impacts of globalised trade.

Addressing a press conference here today, after two days of discussions with the State Government on setting up of the Commission, Dr. Swaminathan said the WTO cell would generate a comprehensive database of all information relevant to farmers and growers. For this, the existing expertise of institutions and individuals would be networked and utilised. The prime concerns of the State WTO Commission would be to maintain Kerala's leadership in those areas of trade where such leadership already exists, bring about value addition to existing produces and to identify and exploit new areas of trade, he said.

After the first sitting of the Commission, task forces would be set up to recommend ways to improve trade practices for such crops as coconut, rubber, tea, coffee, cardamom, ginger, pepper and medicinal herbs. These task forces--which consist of representatives of labour unions and media personnel, among others--would examine the present trade scenario of these crops, identify possibilities of enhanced trade and then would recommend ways of effecting the same. "The task forces would not try to reinvent the wheel, but would collect available expertise in their area of study to achieve their aims," Dr. Swaminathan said.

Under the guidance of the Commission processing zones would be set up for organic food products for which there is great demand in Western countries. The Department of Agriculture would identify such zones where food crops could be grown in an organic fashion. The Commission has also identified a continuous tract of land from Silent Valley to Wayanad which could be a designated medicinal herbs and plant cultivation zone. The Western market for such herbs and plants too is very vast. Along with this, Kerala also needs to set up its own certification mechanism for organic crops.

What Kerala needs in the present day scenario is more Foreign Direct Investment and strategic partnerships with foreign companies which would prove mutually beneficial. Possibilities for technical collaborations too should be examined. Adequate attention needs to be given to cost competitiveness and quality control. The Commission would also strive to ensure a fair share of the consumer price to farmers and growers who, at present, get only a small fraction of the market price for their crops and produces. Kerala has also great potential to develop "green tourism", he said.

The bottomline for the operations of the State WTO Commission would be the well being and economic progress of the farming families of Kerala, he added.

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Section  : Southern States
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