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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 Economics × Author: Amogh, P Kumar × Author: KAU × End date: 2018 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Economic impact of climate change and adaptation strategies in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) cultivation in Kerala
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, Vellayani, 2017) Amogh, P Kumar; KAU; Paul Lazarus, T
    The research entitled “Economic impact of climate change and adaptation strategies in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) cultivation in Kerala” was conducted in Wayanad and Idukki districts. The objective of the study was to quantify the impact of climate change on black pepper, to understand the adaptation practices followed by farmers to overcome climate change and to study the extent of governments’ compensation to farmers due to weather extremes. Secondary data regarding area production, productivity and climatic variables were collected for Idukki and Wayanad districts for the period 1987-2016. Secondary data on compensation provided by government due to weather extremes were collected only for Wayanad district for the period 2005-2016 and primary data were confined to Wayanad district for the agricultural year 2015-2016. Panel data analysis was done to identify the climatic variables that are influencing the production, binary logit regression was fitted to understand the socioeconomic variables influencing adoption of adaptation practices, ABC cost concepts were used to calculate the annual maintenance cost of pepper farmers, Cobb Douglas production function was fitted to calculate the allocative efficiency of the resources, Garrett ranking technique to determine the constraints faced by pepper farmers and compound annual growth rate was calculated for the compensation given by the government during weather extremes to know the growth trend. From the panel data analysis, it was found that average temperature during Q3 (July – September) and Q4 (October – December) had a negative and significant impact on the production of pepper. A one percent increase in the average temperature during Q3 will decrease the production by 3.41 per cent and a one percent increase in the temperature during Q4 will decrease the production by 2.69 per cent. Rainfall during Q2 (April – June), which coincides with flowering of pepper, was found to have positive effect on production but was statistically insignificant. Binary logit regression analysis was done to identify the socioeconomic variables influencing adaptation practices followed by adopters. Number of year of experience in pepper farming was found to be statistically significant which had positive influence. From, the estimated partial elasticity, 1 per cent increase in year of farming experience in pepper will increase the probability of adopting adaptation practices by 0.99 per cent. Odds ratio obtained was 5.68 for year of experience in pepper farming. It indicated that farmers with more number of years of experience are likely to adopt adaptation practices five times higher than the farmers who have less experience. Cost A1 for the adopter farmers was `1,68,959.65 ha-1. Out of this, hired labour accounted for 39.30 per cent, followed by manures, fertilizers and soil ameliorants which was 21.13 per cent. Cost A2, Cost B and Cost C were `2,04,584.65 ha-1, `2,51,241.35 ha-1, and `2,79,533.43 ha-1respectively. In non adopter farmers Cost A1 was `1,56,149.14 ha-1. Out of this, hired labour accounted for 41.87 per cent, followed by manures, fertilizer and soil ameliorants 22.14 per cent. Cost A2, Cost B and Cost C were `1,93,649.14 ha-1, `2,42,160.42 ha-1, and `2,65,117.63 ha- 1 respectively. At Cost C, adopter farmers had 5.43 per cent more cost of cultivation per hectare than non adopter farmers. Gross returns of adopters and non adopters was `4,50,363.87 ha-1 and `3,10,953.04 ha-1 respectively. B-C ratio at Cost C for adopters was 1.61 and for non adopters it was 1.17. The allocative efficiency, in adopter and non adopter farmers, family labour was used sub optimally. Plant protection chemicals were underutilized and manures and fertilizers were over utilized by adopters, whereas both plant protection chemicals and manures and fertilizers were over utilized by non adopters. Garrett ranking technique was used to rank the major constraints faced by the farmers. Increase in high incidence of pest and disease and high labour cost were the major production constraints faced by adopters and non adopters respectively. Fluctuation in market prices was the major marketing constraint for both categories of farmers. High cost of adaptation practices and lack of knowledge about adaptation practices were major constraints for adaptation faced by adopters and non adopters respectively. Compensation to pepper farmers in Wayanad from government during drought was an average `48,64,984 per annum and is growing at the rate of 1.04 per cent per annum. Compensation for flooding due to heavy rainfall & high speed wind was an average `1,32,81,192 per annum and is also growing at the rate of 1.04 per cent per annum. Q3 and Q4 temperature had negative impact on pepper production. Increase in number of years of experience in farming increases the probability of adopting adaptation practices. Net returns of adopters were more than that of non adopters. Increase in labour cost, fluctuation in market prices and high cost of adaptation practices were major constraints faced by both farmers. Compensation by government due to drought and heavy rainfall & high speed wind showed a positive growth trend. A negative trend of rainfall was observed for both the districts. Hence adaptation measures to conserve water such as rain water harvesting system, mulching, spraying 1 per cent lime solution, moisture conservation tillage and growing drought tolerant varieties (Paniyur-5, Paniyur-6 and Paniyur-7) helps to reduce the risk of drought.