Hedging for Farm Products: Indian Commodity Exchanges' Experience

The study, inter alia, sets out to identify the factors responsible for price and quantity volatility of the exchange-traded farm products in Indian market, the role of futures markets in price discovery and to suggest a strategy for efficient mechanism of risk management and price dissemination for the welfare of the farming community. The analysis was done by using different statistical tools, viz.,standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis, coefficient of determination, JB test, regression analysis, optimal hedge ratio and hedging effectiveness. The study reveals that hedging helps to even out the price oscillations in respect of exchange-traded farm products in India. Also, the application of technology for the purpose of transparency and real-time availability of price movements will enable farmers' producer groups and cooperatives in decision-making about cropping patterns well before the onset of the cropping seasons. In brevity, hedging can help in safeguarding the economic fortunes of the vulnerable and preponderant majority of the marginal and small farmers in India in case the commodity exchanges are technology-driven,transparent and professionally managed.