WTO cell to study Global market issues.

WTO cell to study Global market issues.
Dr.T.P.Sethumadhavasn
The World trade Organization envisages free trade of products in a transparent and competitive environment leading to smooth trading activities. Several agreements on Agriculture tariffs, subsidies, sanitary measures and intellectual property rights came under a single roof World Trade Organization (WTO) as GATT agreement. 100 countries including India knowingly or unknowingly entered in to this global trade regime to promote economic development across the globe. WTO forces member countries to open up their economy to a free flow of imports and exports. Market access, domestic market and TRIPS are the key elements pertaining to WTO in the Agriculture sector. Consequent to WTO norms Government of India lifted trade barriers of over 1500 items including livestock products like milk, meat, milk products, meat products, leather, etc. Import duties and restrictions may hasten in flow of cheap goods, which attracts urban consumers. In order to exploit the international market export potential has to be exploited.
During the last four decades Kerala witnessed a spectacular growth in the livestock sector. Total volume of output of Livestock is 56115.67 million rupees as against 139186.26 million rupees from agriculture. Kerala’s agrarian economy has even higher intensification of livestock sector. Commodity share is 3.53% in Livestock sector as against 3.5% in Agriculture. Compared to annual growth rate of 0.9% in agriculture, livestock sector is growing at the rate of 3.8%. Per capita consumption of milk has reached 226 gms per day. More than 95% eggs produced in the state are from backyard sector. Meat sector is still in the unorganized sector. We are unable to meet the increased demand. In order to increase the production and consumption of meat, production strategies has to be reoriented in such a way that measures to implement TQM, HACCP and to reduce cost of production has to be followed. Marketing potential in this sector has to be integrated with the production sectors. In this juncture an organization to study trade related issues of livestock products play a key role.

Some of the major points of concern are-
1. Kerala cannot exploit the market potential of meat and meat products since it is mainly unorganized in nature.
2. Per capita meat consumption in the state is far below the NIN/ICMR recommended level.
3. Emerging competition from developed/developing countries.
4. Increased land pressure and reducing livestock holdings.
5. Reducing profitability from livestock sector in the state.
6. Relatively low production of value added products.
7. Non-availability of subsidies.
8. Untapped potential of livestock products trades in the international market.
9. Lack of awareness on impact of globalization in the livestock sector.
10. Import of livestock products from abroad.
Trade issues in Animal Husbandry need to focus the following areas –

1.Measures to enhance market access for Kerala’s livestock products
2.Extent and scope of value addition of animal products
3.Extent of impact of imports (duty free/duty paid) on our market access (domestic/external).
4.Measures for domestic support/export subsidies
5. Unorganized export promotion programmes.
6.Non-tariff barriers like information on rejection of consignments and time bound data.
7.Sanitary and phyto sanitary measures and quality restrictions.
8.Issues related to tracebility, residue monitoring
9.Documentation of indigenous knowledge practices
10.Conservation issues related to indigenous breeds of livestock and poultry.


Objectives: -

1.To analyze the measures needed to enhance market access for Kerala’s livestock products
2.To study the extent and scope of value addition of animal products consequent to globalization
3.To analyze the extent of impact of imports (duty free/duty paid) on our market access (domestic/external).
4.To identify the guidelines needed for domestic support/export subsidies
5.To strategically evaluate and suggest needed recommendations for Export promotion programmes.
6.To analyze Non-tariff barriers like information on rejection of consignments and time bound data.
7. To identify the guidelines needed for Sanitary and phyto sanitary measures and quality restrictions.
8. To study the issues related to tracebility, residue monitoring
9.Documentation of indigenous knowledge practices
10.To analyze the conservation issues related to indigenous breeds of livestock and poultry.
11.To study participatory trade related issues with industries in the livestock sector.

Mode of functioning-

The WTO cell is a broad based one, which will explore the possibilities of marketing of livestock products in the State/National/International level with the envisaged objectives. It will undertake projects in association with UNCTAD, FAO, Agricultural Universities, public sector undertakings, SHG’s, NGOs, etc. It will analyze the trends in livestock rearing in the state with experts working in livestock development departments, MPI, KLDB, KCMMF, NGOs, exporters, industries etc.

WTO cell will work as an autonomous body under Animal husbandry department. Secretary (Animal Husbandry and Dairying) and Director, Department of Animal husbandry will be the patrons. The cell will incorporate Selected officers from the Animal Husbandry department, CDS, selected scientists, economists, law professionals from across the country. Representatives from ASSOCHAM, CLFMA, EPZ, Poultry and processing sectors will be included in the participatory study programmes. Special officer in charge of the WTO cell will co-ordinate the activities in a time bound manner.
Outcome of the study: -
The WTO cell will assess the demand and supply of Animal products, external and internal environment pertaining to livestock product trade in the state, country and abroad in the areas of market access, non trade barriers and intellectual property rights.