As part of our initiative in the agri-tech field to help our farmers to run their farm as an enterprise, TiE Kerala and Foundation for Organic Agriculture & Rural Development jointly conducted a very unique three-day exhibition-cum-workshop on Agri-Tech initiatives titled - "India International Agri Expo 2008 (IIAE’08)" from 31st October to 2nd November, 2008 at Town Hall, Ernakulam (Kerala, India).

The main objective of the above event was to bring the Government, Agriculture Institutes, Farming Community and the Industry in one platform and exchange views, understand each others requirements and try to evolve at a consensus on a road map to enhance agricultural production and promote food security in our State. This objective was fully met as we had very active participation from various agricultural organizations of Government of Kerala, National & State Horticulture Mission, Kerala Agricultural University and various private sector agri businesses from all over India.

Organic agriculture and protected farming through Green House Technology had special emphasis. The event focused on Technology, Skill and Supply Chain so that lead farmers, the target group of the event, could equip to run their farm as a profitable enterprise.

There were Technical Seminars, Business to Business (B2B) Meets & Discussions on all the three days of the event. Topics like Organic Agriculture & Aquaculture, Farm Mechanization, Green House Technology, Value Addition and Processing & Packaging of Agri Products, Horticulture & Floriculture, Farm Tourism, Emerging Markets in Agri Sector, etc. were covered in these technical seminars.

• Agri Exhibition: Participants from all sectors of agriculture field displayed their products and services. Many Governmental and Non-Governmental organizations participated in this event. There were over 70 organizations who exhibited their products and services in the trade-fair. Some of the important Governmental Organizations include: State Horticulture Mission, Spices Board of India, Coir Board, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Horti Corp etc. Also, a variety of Non-Governmental organizations, Farmer Groups, Cooperatives, Farm Entrepreneurs and Private Companies participated in this event.
  
  
• International Agri Seminar on 1st Nov’ 08: An International Seminar was organized on the 2nd day of the event at Hotel Presidency, Kochi. MR. K.R. Viswambharan, IAS, Vice-Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University was the Chief Guest. Eminent speakers like Dr. Domenico Sorrenti, Director, Ministry of Agriculture, Rome (Italy) and Dr. Andrea Fugaro, COLDIRETTI (Italy) addressed the gathering.
  
  
• Conducted Tour for Farmers: A large cross-section of lead farmers and farmer group representatives visited the exhibition and attended the seminars. In addition, a large number of farmers were brought by road from different regions of Kerala including Wyanad, Palakkad & Idukki to participate in the seminar sessions under the sponsorship arrangement with South Malabar Gramin Bank, NABARD, etc.
  
  
• Terrace Garden Contest: To promote vegetable cultivation as a hobby and make it popular amongst housewives, we organized a terrace Garden Contest for the participants from Cochin City and suburbs. The winners were given mementoes and cash prizes.