Malarvadi FPO

FARMER’S MOBILIZATION PROGRAMME ORGANISED BY KERALA MARKETFED-FPO DIVISION AT MALARVADI FPO

Kerala Marketfed, as part of its farmer empowerment and capacity-building initiatives, organized a Farmers mobilization programme at the Malarvadi Farmers Producer Co-operative Marketing Society on 12.09.2025. The program aimed at equipping farmers with practical knowledge and innovative approaches in procurement, value addition, and agri-business opportunities.

The technical session was led by Dr. K.P. Sudheer, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Engineering at Kerala Agricultural University and faculty member of the Agri Business Incubator. In his presentation, Dr. Sudheer delivered an insightful class focusing on the following key areas:

1. Nutmeg and Cocoa Procurement – Current trends in procurement, quality standards, grading, and pricing mechanisms.

2. Value Addition and Product Diversification – Opportunities for converting raw nutmeg and cocoa into high-value products such as nutmeg oil, nutmeg powder, cocoa powder, chocolates, beverages, and confectionery.

3. Post-Harvest Handling and Storage – Best practices for maintaining quality, reducing losses, and ensuring a longer shelf life of products.

4. Marketing and Business Opportunities – The role of branding, packaging, and collective marketing through FPOs and co-operative societies to strengthen farmers’ position in the market.

5. Entrepreneurship through Agri Business Incubators – Guidance on how farmers can access incubation facilities, training, and technical support to develop successful agri-business ventures.

The training session was highly interactive, allowing farmers to clarify doubts and share their experiences. Special emphasis was given to the importance of collective action and co-operative marketing, which can provide farmers with better bargaining power and assured market access.

The program concluded with positive feedback from the participants, who expressed that the knowledge gained from the training will help them explore innovative farming strategies and value addition opportunities, thereby ensuring better profitability and sustainable income. Overall, the training program organized by Kerala Marketfed proved to be a fruitful and inspiring session, motivating farmers to adopt modern practices and take advantage of the vast potential in agri-business development.

Feedback on Farmers’ Training Program

The Farmers’ Training Program organized at Malarvadi Farmers Co-operative Marketing Society, in collaboration with Kerala Marketfed, was an enriching and highly beneficial experience for the participants. The session was led by Dr. K. P. Sudheer, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Engineering, Kerala Agricultural University (Agri-Business Incubator), who delivered an in-depth and practical-oriented class.

The training primarily focused on agri-business opportunities, scientific methods in agricultural processing, and market-oriented farming practices. Dr. Sudheer effectively combined theoretical concepts with real-life case studies, making the session interactive and easily understandable for the farmers.

Participants appreciated the way technical subjects were simplified and explained in a farmer-friendly manner. The program provided clear insights into:

• The importance of value addition in agricultural produce.
• Opportunities in agri-business incubation.
• Marketing strategies for farm products.
• Cost-effective technologies and their applications in farming.

The farmers expressed that the training motivated them to adopt innovative practices and explore entrepreneurial opportunities in agriculture. Many participants felt confident that the knowledge gained would help them improve their income and strengthen collective activities through FPOs and co-operatives.

Overall, the training program was highly successful. Farmers requested that more such sessions be organized in the future, covering practical demonstrations and advanced agri-business topics, so that they can continue to build on the knowledge.