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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: Aswathy Vijayan × End date: 2010 × Start date: 2003 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Impact of command area development authority (CADA): an economic analysis of Neyyar irrigation project
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2004) Aswathy Vijayan; KAU; Satheesbabu, K
    Water is the most precious natural resource providing life-supporting system for plants, animals as well as human beings. The twentieth century witnessed a tremendous growth in the use of water resulting in a mismatch between per capita water availability and its use. It is against this background that the study entitled “Impact of Command Area Development Authority: An Economic Analysis of Neyyar Irrigation Project” was undertaken with the specific objectives of evaluating the socio-economic impact of Neyyar Irrigation Project in the command area and to identify the operational problems. The study was carried out during the year 2003-04. The study was based on primary as well as secondary data. A stratified random sampling method was employed to collect information from 60 beneficiary farmers from the head, middle and tail reaches, and 60 non-beneficiary farmers. The study revealed that while the beneficiary farmers devoted more cropped area under more water demanding crops, the non-beneficiaries gave less thrust on water demanding crops. The cropping intensity (115.68%) and gross area irrigated (81.35%) was more for beneficiaries when compared to non-beneficiaries. The crop productivity and gross margin of major crop enterprises like banana, coconut, and vegetables were higher for the beneficiary farmers than the non-beneficiaries. The increase in yield was 11.22 per cent for banana (Nendran), and 4.84 per cent for coconut. In vegetables also, the crop yield was higher for the beneficiaries. In the case of rain fed crops like tapioca, the crop yield was more for non-beneficiary farmers. The actual utilization index showed that the cumulative area actually brought under irrigation has increased from 53 per cent in 1985 to 75 percent in 2003. The Financial Self Sufficiency ratio showed that the revenue from water cess was recovering only 8 per cent of the operation and maintenance cost of the project. The financial analysis was carried out and which indicated the project was financially attractive with a benefit-cost ratio was estimated to 1.48, the NPV was Rs 43.12 lakhs, and the financial rate of return of 16 per cent. The economic analysis of the project by correcting the distortions on account of subsidies revealed that the project was economically attractive to the society with a benefit cost ratio of 5.66, a net present value of Rs 1018.31 lakh. The economic rate of returns on the irrigation investment was 35.47 per cent. The operational problems in on- farm irrigation were water scarcity in summer, improper maintenance of canals, lack of timely desiltation, unscientific channel construction and wastage of water and poor canal lining. There was no supply of water according to the crop requirement, and the system of rotational water supply (Warabandhi) was not practised.