Kochi: Commodity markets regulator Forward Markets Commission (FMC) will hold a stakeholders meeting for rubber, pepper and cardamom here on January 21.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who is the Chief Guest, will deliver the keynote address, while Minister of State for Consumer Affairs K V Thomas will preside over the meeting.
Pankaj Agrawala, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, will deliver a special address. Ramesh Abhishek, Chairman, FMC, will be among those who will address the gathering.
The primary objective of the meet, being held in association with the National Commodity Exchanges, is to discuss ways and means to improve hedgers' participation in the commodity futures market, particularly in pepper, rubber and cardamom, Abhisekh, Chairman of the Mumbai headquartered FMC, said.
"Views of the participants would provide useful inputs in taking pro-active steps to improve the hedgers' participation in commodity futures market for price risk management in Agri-products', Thomas said.
"The FMC and various Commodity Exchanges under it are being advised to hold such meetings regularly all over the country so that better stakeholder participation is ensured, ultimately benefitting the farmers by increased information dissemination", he added.
The meeting will be attended by representatives of the central and state governments, Rubber Board, Spices Board, Producers' Cooperatives, Growers' Associations, Members of National Commodity Exchanges, User Industries, Bankers, Farmers and other stakeholders.
PTI
First Published: Friday, January 18, 2013, 20:15