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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively. Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively. On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs. In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc. During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.

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Subject: Agricultural Business Management × Author: KAU × Author: Toney, Joseph × End date: 1999 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Comparative analysis of the cottage and factory sub sectors of the co-operative sectors in the handloom industry of Kerala
    (Department of Rural Marketing Management, College of Co-operatrion and Banking, Mannuthy, 1988) Toney, Joseph; KAU; Suresh, K A
    The study on ‘A Comparative Analysis of the Factory and Cottage sub sectors of the co – operative Sector in the Handloom Industry of Kerala’ has been carried out to examine the structural differences, operational costs and profit margin and working conditions of weavers under both the categories. Five industrial societies and five primary societies which constituted 20% of the working societies of Cannanore district were selected for the study. Hundred weaver members were interviewed for the purpose of the study. The primary societies were organized on a production cum sales pattern while the industrial societies were similar to the handloom factories where production was centralised. The everage membership in primary societies was considerably high. The share of female members in total membership was also found to be high among primaries. The socio economic characteristics of weavers showed that more people were associated with weaving in primary societies than industrial societies. In the case of other variables like literacy, family size, age, caste, income, marital status, occupational mobility and territorial mobility, considerable difference was not noticed. The number of average looms and active looms covered were high among primary societies. But the average production per member was found to be high among the industrial societies. The factor productivity analysis showed that both the primary and industrial societies were found to the highly labour intensive. The analysis of the cost structure revealed that raw materials and wages constituted more than 70% of total costs. The sub sectoral analysis showed that cost structure was more or less similar. The cost –volume-profit analysis reflected the negative margin safety and it was found that break-even point of sales was above the actual sales. The working conditions revealed that the average wage received by the workers in the industrial societies by the workers in the industrial societies was considerably higher. The preference for higher counts of yarn was high in industrial societies. Health problems were wide spread among the weavers. Majority of weavers felt that they were pursuing a job of low status. Eighty percent of the weavers joined co-operatives either for better remuneration or for protection against exploitation. Thus, we have found that through industrial and primary societies were basically co-operative institutions with lot of similarities, the striking structural difference was found in their production organisation.