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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: Chithra, M S × End date: 2006 × Start date: 2006 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Socio- economic issues in pesticide use: an analysis in bittergourd
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2006) Chithra, M S; KAU; Jesy Thomas, K
    The present study on the " Socio-economic Issues on pestici~e use: An analysis in bittergourd" was conducted to study the economics, analyse pattern of pesticide use and examine the socio economic issues in use of pesticides in bitter gourd. The study was taken up in Palakkad and Thrissur districts where bittergourd cultivation is taken up on a commercial scale. From the districts, Nemmara and Pazhayannur panchayats were selected for the study. The total cost of cultivation per hectare at C3 level in bittergourd cultivation was' found to be RS.l 09240 in Nemmara and RS.l 0690 1 in Pazhayannur. The benefit cost ratio was found to be 1.63 in Nemmara and 1.61 in Pazhayannur. Among the inputs, labour charges constituted the major share followed by manures. Among the . different operations, manuring and fertilizer application occupied the lion's share. The pesticide usage in the study area was found to be indiscriminate and the usage of plant protection chemicals was found to increase with an increase in holding size. The respondents in Pazhayannur were resorting more on non-chemical methods of pest control. The yield and returns per hectare was found to be 22190 kg and Rs. 177520 in Nemmara and 21551 kg and Rs. 172408 in Pazhayannur . .. In the analysis of gross income function, area, PPC, and orgamc manure was found to be significantly influencing the gross income. The factors influencing the pesticide. expenditure wer~ analyzed and the• study showed that area, . . "fertilizer and income was found to have significant influence on pesticide expenditure. In the estimation of technical efficiency using maximum likelihood estimates, plant protection chemicals and human labour were found to be significant. The mean technical efficiency in bittergourd production was found to be higher in Pazhayannur (0.84) as compared to Nemmara (0.79). • In the analysis of the factors influencing the overuse of pesticides, the gross income was found to have significant influence on the overuse of pesticides. Consumer survey revealed that 82.5 per cent of consumers were aware of the pesticide residues and the Willingness To Pay Premium (WTPP) was found to be Rs.4.21 per kilogram of bitter gourd. The major constraints in the organic production of bittergourd was the lack of proper markets for selling organically produced bittergourd, non-uniformity in the cultivation practices in an area and small size of the produce obtained though organic cultivation.