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ThesisItem Open Access Medicinal properties and process optimisation for GABA enrichment in rice(Department of Community Science, College of Agriculture,Vellanikkara, 2023-12-15) Simla Thomas; KAU; Aneena, E R; KAURice, the grain of life is consumed worldwide and serves as the cornerstone of global food security. Brown rice in its whole form contains various nutritive and bioactive components and has numerous health benefits. Germination is an effective method to enhance the organoleptic, textural and nutritional qualities of rice grains, including functional compounds such as gamma amino butyric acid (GABA). The present study revealed that, GABA content in rice can be enhanced by adopting optimum soaking and germination durations. In GABA enriched rice, the antioxidant, antiproliferative activities, nutritional benefits and sensory qualities were found to be higher than ungerminated rice. The developed processed rice products showed good sensory qualities and retained GABA content. Germination is an effective and low cost strategy to transform rice into a functional food.ThesisItem Open Access Structure, conduct and performance of rice market in Kerala(Department of Rural Marketing Management, College of Co-operation, Banking and Management, Vellanikkara, 2022-05-09) Divya Vijayan; KAU; Ushadevi K NRice is the major food crop cultivated in the State occupying 7.37 per cent of the total cultivated area. The study mainly aimed to analyse the structure and conduct of rice market in Kerala and to assess its performance as well as to identify the constraints faced by the rice farmers and traders in the rice market. Both primary and secondary data were used for the collection of data. Primary data were collected from rice farmers as well as traders. Data from farmers and traders were collected by adopting personal interview method using pre tested structured interview schedule. Secondary data on area, production, productivity and procurement price of rice in Kerala were collected from published reports and official websites of Government of KeralaThesisItem Open Access Evaluation of banana (Musa spp.) varieties for the development of intermediate moisture fruit (IMF)(2022-07-26) Thatayaone Malikongwa; KAU; Saji Gomez; KAUThe study on ‘Evaluation of banana (Musa spp.) varieties for the development of Intermediate Moisture Fruit (IMF)’ was undertaken at the Department of Post Harvest Technology, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara between the years 2018 and 2022, using varieties of different genomic groups viz. Nendran (AAB), Pisang Lilin (AA), Karpooravalli (ABB), Njalipoovan (AB), Grand Naine (AAA) and Yangambi km5 (AAA), which were collected from the Banana Research Station, Kannara. Nedunendran banana of the variety Nendran variety was used in the present study. The main objectives of the study were to characterize banana varieties and to explore their suitability for the development of Intermediate Moisture Fruit (IMF).ThesisItem Open Access Spatio-temporal variations and DNA fingerprinting in elite genotypes of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.)(Department of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops,Vellanikkara, 2023-05-19) Priyanka S Chandran; KAU; Mini Raj, NThe present study entitled “Spatio-temporal variations and DNA fingerprinting in elite genotypes of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.)” was carried out at the Department of Plantation Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic crops, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur with three objectives: (a) to assess the spatial and temporal variations on performance of a set of elite nutmeg genotypes in terms of growth, flowering, yield as well as quality and their response to weather parameters, with a view to identify genotype-environment interactions (b) DNA fingerprinting of the select elite nutmeg genotypes, (c) to assess the performance of nutmeg trees budded on wild (Myristica beddomei King) as well as self-rootstock (Myristica fragrans Houtt.).ThesisItem Open Access User centered design, development, and end-user assessment of an M-tool for vegetable cultivation in polyhouse(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture,Vellanikkara, 2022-05-20) Poornima C P; KAU; A Sakeer HusainHi-tech farming is gaining grip in Indian farming system. Polyhouse farming which is a subset of hi-tech farming is an alternate new system of crop production which reduces dependency on climatic factors along with economic use of water, fertilisers and other inputs necessarily needed for farming. In a state like Kerala where per capita availability of land is less and density of population is increasing, the polyhouse can be a boon to the farmers. With advancing technologies, proper information delivery system must be there to make f armers get updated with the progress in agriculture. As Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools are acquiring its foothold even among the rural communities, proper utilisation of suitable tools can help farmers to get more insight of the advances and in turn aid in efficient decision making.ThesisItem Open Access Genetic improvement of horticultural traits of bacterial wilt resistant/tolerant tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) varieties(Department of Vegetable Science ,College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2023-02-14) Athulya, M P; KAU; Anitha, PVegetable production in the warm humid tropics is hampered by the recurrence of pests and diseases. Bacterial wilt disease caused Ralstonia solanacearum is the single most impediment, putting bottle neck in the commercial cultivation of tomato in Kerala. The disease is particularly rigorous in Kerala, where variety of factors such as virulent pathogen, favorable climate, and edaphic factors are available. As the pathogen is able to survive in soil, plant debris, weeds and able to move along with irrigation water; management practices are not quite effective in curbing the disease spread. Hence, exploitation of host plant resistance is the best feasible way to manage bacterial wilt disease. Bacterial wilt resistant varieties of tomato developed from the Kerala Agricultural University are nationally renowned. However, due to small fruit size, these varieties are low in demand in the market.In this context, the present investigation entitled “Genetic improvement of horticultural traits of bacterial wilt resistant/tolerant tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) varieties” by following line x tester analysis was undertaken to improve yield, fruit size and quality of bacterial wilt resistant/tolerant tomato varieties.ThesisItem Open Access Evaluation of sesame genotypes for tolerance to waterlogging and development of mitigation strategies(Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture,Vellanikkara, 2023-12-18) Sreepriya S; KAU; Girija,TThe present study was initiated to identify constraints of sesame farmers in Kerala, to screen sesame genotypes for tolerance to waterlogging, identification of suitable ameliorative treatment for waterproofing sesame, molecular characterization of sesame genotypes with genes and markers reported for waterlogging tolerance and screening for drought tolerance. Sesame growing farmers were surveyed in three districts of Kerala viz., Alappuzha, Kollam and Thrissur during 2018. Data was analyzed using Garrett ranking technique. Identified constraints were high labour cost, excessive rain fall, drought, weed infestation, unavailability of labour, pest and disease, marketing problem, problems for transportation, drying and threshing, and storage problems in decreasing order of their Garrett rank.ThesisItem Open Access Performance analysis of farmer producer companies (FPCs) in Kerala(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2022-05-28) Akhil Ajith; KAU; Bonny,Binoo PFarmer Producer Companies (FPCs) are institutional innovations that hold tremendous potential in influencing the agricultural value chains by creating economic profit and social value. As such, the standard measures of financial analysis alone cannot provide an overall indication of the performance of these organisations.Therefore, an attempt to use integrated dimensions of socio-economic parameters were pursued in the present study to delineate the factors affecting the performance of FPCs and in the development of a performance index to grade the FPCs. The results of thestudy also helped in evolving policy recommendations that could improve the performance of FPCs in a sustainable way. The study followed ex-post facto research design conducted among 30 FPCs selected randomly from the 14 districts of Kerala. Proportionate random sampling was employed to ascertain the number of FPCs selected from each district and to identify 120 shareholders. Random and exhaustive sampling was followed respectively in the selection of 60 director board members and 30 CEOs to make the total sample size of 210.ThesisItem Open Access Institutional intervention in marketing of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in Kerala(Department of Rural Marketing Management, College of Co-operation, Banking and Management, Vellanikkara, 2023-05-13) Vijayakumar, N; KAU; Ushadevi, K NIndigenous communities living in the forests depends on the forest resources like Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) for their survival and livelihoods. The dominance of the middlemen, lack of accessibility of the market and lack of awareness of the price of NTFPs were the main problems faced by tribals in the collection and marketing of NTFPs (Rawal, 2020). There is a growing market for NTFPs, but its large potential still needs to be tapped by both the collectors and the institutions involved. Since efforts have been going on for quite a long time, new agencies and institutions, have been established and programmes and schemes have been implemented to promote the NTFPs and thereby develop the tribal community. It is time that an assessment of these interventions be done to assess whether these interventions are within reach of the tribals, to what extent the policy measures of central and state government have positively affect the marketing of NTFPs and the livelihood of tribes collecting NTFPs, whether the institutions address the problems faced by the tribals and to what extent they succeeded in solving the issues related to marketing of NTFPs. In this context the present study entitled ‘Institutional intervention in marketing of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Kerala’ was undertaken to analyse the existing market structure of NTFPs, to examine the role of institutional intervention in promoting NTFPs, to examine the extent of awareness, accessibility and impact of institutional interventions among selected tribes and to analyse the problems faced by the selected tribes in the collection and marketing of NTFPs. This study will fulfil the research gap of the institutional contributions towards improving the livelihood of NTFPs collectors and would help the institutions to identify and prioritise the areas in need of their interventions. Both primary and secondary data were collected for the study. As per the data collected from the records of Scheduled Tribes Service Cooperative Society (STSCS) (2018-2019), it was found that Irular, Kattunayakan, Paniyan, and Kadar were the tribes mainly engaged in the collection of NTFPs. Among them Kattunayakan and Paniyan tribes are settled in Wayanad district, Irular tribe is settled in Palakkad district and Kadar tribe is mainly settled in Thrissur district. Through stratified random sampling method, 204 tribals collecting NTFPs, from these four tribes were selected. With respect to the selection of institutions, all the categories of the institutions involved in promoting NTFPs collectors based in Kerala state were selected with a total sample size of 12 viz Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department (KFD), STSCS, Tribal co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), Kerala State Federation of SC/ST Development Cooperative Ltd (SC/ST Federation), Scheduled Tribes Development Department (STDD), Kerala State Development Corporation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (KSDC-ST/SC), College of Forestry (CoF), Kerala Institute for Research Training and Development Studies for SC & ST (KIRTADS), Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) and National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEDB). Data from tribals were collected through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) method, by using semi-structured interview schedule. Primary data from the institutions were collected from officials of the institutions by using pre-tested structured interview schedule. Secondary data were collected from annual reports, and official websites of selected institutions. Percentage analysis, pair-wise ranking and seasonal calendar were used to analyse the existing market structure of NTFPs. The role of institutional interventions in promoting NTFPs was examined with the help of Venn Diagram. Awareness was examined with the help of percentage analysis. Mobility Map and Impact Diagram were used to examine the accessibility and impact of institutional interventions respectively. Problems of tribals were identified by using Garret Ranking and by drawing ranking ladder. From the analysis of existing market structure of NTFPs in Kerala, it was found that tribals, SC/ST Federation, STSCS, TRIFED, and KFD are the major players in the market. In addition to this the presence of institutions like STDD, KSDC SC/ST, CoF, KIRTADS, KFRI are also found in promoting NTFPs through conducting training, workshops, exhibitions, promoting NTFPs through social media etc. Tribal community are the sellers and STSCS, KFD and TRIFED are the main buyers. A common market structure for NTFPs does not exist in Kerala .An oligopsony market structure was identified where institutions were present and monopolistic competition was observed in the absence of institutions in certain tribal settlements. The STSCS main activity is regularly procuring NTFPs from tribals and marketing NTFPs with the help of the SC/ST Federation through auction cum quotation and negotiation. Eco-Development Committees (EDC) and Vana Samrakshana Samithi (VSS) of KFSD collect NTFPs from tribals and market through Vanasree eco shops, Vanasree e-portal and exhibitions under the brand name Vanasree. Institutions provide a pool of information to help the tribals to undertake their operations more systematically and scientifically. Majority of the tribals prefer to sell the collected NTFPs to STSCS. They had expressed, better price, spot payment, flexible payment options, bulk procurement and regular consumers as the reasons for preferring STSCS over other institutions. Among the institutions TRIFED offers an effective product differentiation support. TRIFED had trained the tribals to produce seven value added products from honey. KFD have an effective supply chain logistics which facilitates the prompt delivery of the product to the customers. . Majority of the tribal community consider KFD, CoF, STDD, and STSCS as important institutions. Out of these they considered STSCS as effective in rendering the service. Institutions had provided product development and market development supports to tribals in additions to the implementation of various schemes of the central and state government. However, the services and supports of the institutions are not benefitting the tribals to the expected level due to their low level of awareness The awareness of the tribals with respect to the interventions of the institutions are very low as they had not received any awareness programme on services offered by the institutions till now. The officials from the majority institutions were not visiting the colony and disseminating the necessary information to the tribals. Most tribals mentioned the forest office, STSCS, and its depot as being conveniently accessible to them. Many institutions that assisted NTFPs collectors (tribals) were far away from the colony, making it difficult for them to access these institutions. The study brought out that institutional interventions had resulted in increasing tribals income, reducing school dropouts, increasing the number of women collectors, reducing tribals debt, and tribals migrations. The major problems faced by the selected tribals with respect to collection of NTFPs were negative interactions with wild animals, inadequate availability of NTFPs in the forest and low price availability of NTFPs. Lack of guidance and support from government officials for marketing of NTFPs, no institutional support/follow up after training programme and long distance to market place cause considerable interruption in marketing of NTFPs. The study brought out the need for certain policy interventions which will help to improve the lively hood of NTFPs collectors. Many marketing channels exist in Kerala for marketing NTFPs and the procurement price and selling price differs based on the channels. If a uniform marketing channel can be created uniform pricing of the NTFPs would be possible.. Even though most of the selected institutions were conducting training programme the intended benefits are not reaching to tribal communities due to the lack of follow up measures. It would be better if institutions arrange follow-up programmes and making monthly visit to tribal settlements. This would help them to sell NTFPs as value added products and build a good relationship with the institutions. As the tribals were unaware of much information, the timely communication of various programmes, services and implementation of schemes etc is necessary. Institutions should take utmost care in this respect. It is difficult for tribals to access the services of institutions, as tribals were situated far away from the institutions and they don’t have vehicle or public transport services. Therefore, it is suggested that institutions should visit the colony monthly to provide their services and identify the problems of the tribals. Inadequate availability of NTFPs in the forest will make a negative impact in their collection and income. Arrangement for clearing the forest every month from the part of the Forest Department will help to address this issue. Addressing these suggestions will help to make the existing interventions of institutions more effective and bring out better reflection on the socio economic upliftment of tribals in Kerala.
