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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: Elizabeth, Benny. × Author: KAU × End date: 2020 × Start date: 2020 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Economic impact of an extreme weather event on the production of cardamom in Idukki district of Kerala
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2020) Elizabeth, Benny.; KAU; Paul Lazarus, T
    The study entitled ‘the economic impact of an extreme weather event on the production of cardamom in Idukki district of Kerala’ was carried out with objective to assess the loss in production of cardamom due to extreme weather event of 2018, to analyse its effect on farm income, and to examine the adaptation strategies to mitigate the loss. Primary data were collected from Santhanpara and Senapathy gramapanchyats of Idukki district with a pre-tested well-structured survey schedule. From each gramapanchayat twenty five cardamom farmers were selected and the total sample size was fifty. The relevant secondary data regarding climatic variables, area, production and productivity of cardamom in Idukki district were collected from the concerned institutions. The study followed damage and loss assessment methodology given by FAO to assess the major objective. It also followed ABC cost concepts, percentage analysis, Garrett’s ranking technique to find meaningful results. The annual maintenance cost of cardamom for the pre disaster year 2017-18 was calculated using ABC cost concept. The total cost (Cost C) of cultivation incurred by farmers was ₹6,83,366.06 ha-1. B:C ratio at Cost C was calculated as 1.29 which indicated that the cardamom cultivation is profitable. The heavy rainfall during 2018 had resulted in severe landslides and erosion causing the death of several people and considerable damage to dwellings and the crops cultivated. There was a huge loss of 404.25 kg per ha of cardamom in Santhanpara gramapanchayat and 349.61 kg per ha in Senapathy gramapanchayat to an expected yield of 901.21 kg per ha and 889.57 kg per ha cardamom respectively. It was revealed that due to extreme weather event 42.09 per cent of expected yield was lost to farmers and only 518.49 kg per ha of cardamom was the harvested yield. The total area covered by respondents were 57.41 ha. The value of total loss that occurred among the respondents were ₹ 2.50 crores. Out of which 84.67 per cent was due to the yield loss. Short run expenses and replacement costs were 10.26 per cent and 5.06 per cent respectively. The loss incurred per hectare in cardamom was ₹ 4.37 lakhs and loss accounted per farmer was ₹ 5.02 lakhs. The disaster loss per hectare was extrapolated to the total area of cardamom in Idukki district, it was a whooping sum of around ₹1362 crores. Cardamom contributed more than 90 per cent of farm income during year 2017-18. The income from cardamom of respondents in Santhanpara gramapanchayat and Senapathy gr mapanchayat in 2017-18 were ₹ 2.4 crores and ₹ 2.5 crores respectively which formed a total of ₹ 5.04 crores. After the incidence of extreme weather event farmers faced about 42.08 per cent of shortage in farm income from cardamom. The total farm income from cardamom during disaster year was reduced to ₹ 2.92 crores. Most of the farmers regularly follows weather updates. However, none of the farmers insured their crops against natural calamities. Through crop insurance scheme, natural calamity affected cardamom plantations get an assistance of ₹ 60000 per hectare. Natural calamity assistance was given by government of Kerala through Krishi bhavans and farmers who suffered crop loss were got a compensation of ₹ 25000 per hectare. Adaptation strategies were followed by farmers in order to reduce the vulnerability to extreme weather events. Most of the farmers practiced prophylactic spraying of fungicides as an adaptation strategy. Around 22 per cent of farmers were not following any adaptation strategies. The other adaptation strategies such as mulching, cultivation of different varieties and construction of shallow ditches to facilitate water flow were followed. Most of them followed crop diversification, livestock rearing, aquaculture to avert risk. The study examined the problems faced by farmers of cardamom cultivation in the post disaster scenario. Constraints for production of cardamom faced by farmers were high cost plant protection chemicals and high incidence of pest and diseases. Fluctuation in market price and delay in payment of sale proceeds were identified as the major marketing constraints. The major barriers to adaptation were lack of knowledge about adaptation practices, lack of disease resistant varieties and high cost of adaptation. Marginal farmers were not eligible to receive crop insurance there exists a ceiling of one hectare productive cardamom land to receive the indemnity amount. Hence as a policy matter the government may consider reducing the existing ceiling of one hectare productive cardamom land. The farmers can reduce the risk through diversification of crops and mixed farming. It reduces the extent of loss at times of disaster. Better maintenance of farm with proper phyto sanitary measures will help the farmers in reducing the incidence of pests and disease and therefore the cost on plant protection chemicals can be reduced. Delayed payment for the produce and high volatility in prices is a matter of concern which point outs the need for urgent institutional interventions in cardamom marketing. Farmers need more varieties of cardamom resistant to pest and diseases without compromising on high yield. Future researches can be directed towards this goal. Thus, the study can be a reference for planners and policy makers.