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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: Ashly Mathews × Author: KAU × End date: 2017 × Start date: 2017 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Value chain analysis (VCA) of coconut based food products
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2017) Ashly Mathews; KAU; Latha Bastine, C
    Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is one of the most useful tropical palms, almost all parts of which have various uses in both household and industrial sectors. In spite of the diverse value addition technologies developed by research institutions, the level of adoption was found to be low. A study entitled ‘Value Chain Analysis (VCA) of coconut based food products’ was taken up in order to identify the value chains, price spread, profitability and marketing efficiency of coconut based value added food products using the value chain analysis framework. The study also focused on the constraints faced by various chain players and measures for improving the performance of the chains. The study was conducted in Thrissur district of Kerala, and the four products selected for the study were coconut oil, Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), desiccated coconut and coconut chips. Focus group discussions were held to identify the key chain players involved in the value chain. Survey method was used for the primary data collection. Expert opinions were also used for arriving at conclusions. The value chain map of each product was prepared including the product and byproduct flows. The main chain players involved were farmer/farmer cooperative, village traders, copra traders, processors, wholesalers, retailers, exporters and consumers. Coconut oil value chain involved almost all chain players. But for coconut chips large buyers like wholesalers were not present. The analysis of marketing cost showed that the costs involved were very less where the unnecessary middlemen were least involved or absent. Price spread analysis has shown that VCO has the lowest producer’s share in consumers’ rupee (24.04 per cent) whereas the producer’s share in consumer’s rupee was the highest in coconut oil (71.04 per cent). The index of Modified Marketing Efficiency (MME) was worked out which showed that coconut chips was the least efficiently marketed value added product (0.23). Low market price increased labour charges, increased cost of production and labour shortage were the major problems faced by the farming community. Product specific constraints faced by manufacturers were also studied. Unavailability of sufficient quality raw nut and copra was a major constraint faced by the manufacturers. Financial constraints, adulteration and price fluctuations were the major constraints faced by the wholesalers. High price of the product was the major constraint faced by the consumers of coconut products. Adulteration was also identified as a major constraint faced by the consumers of coconut oil. Ensuring continuous and large scale supply of raw nuts to the manufacturers is the primary need for the promotion of value addition in coconut. The manufacturers should adopt large scale of production with modern technology and the traders should ensure the quality standards of the products which would in turn enhance the marketing opportunities.