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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: Fathimath Nufaisa, P × Author: KAU × End date: 2017 × Start date: 2017 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Market access to quality paddy seed in Kerala
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2017) Fathimath Nufaisa, P; KAU; Prema, A
    Seed is the basic and critical input in agricultural production. It helps to enhance production without adding much to the extent of land under cultivation. Area under rice in Kerala fell from 2.34 Lakh hectares in 2009-10 to 1.99 lakh hectares in 2015-16, the production corresponding to the above period registered a reduction of only 0.49 Lakh tones. Availability and access to quality seeds is one of the important aspect in maintaining at least the current level of production of rice in the state. Hence the present study was carried out to document the major rice seed supply chains in Kerala and to assess their economic performance, to elucidate the demand - supply gap in rice seed production and to conduct a SWOC analysis of the rice seed market in the state. The study was conducted in three major rice growing districts in Kerala viz., Palakkad, Alappuzha and Thrissur. From each district one block having maximum area under rice cultivation was selected and from each block two panchayaths were randomly selected. Primary data collection was done from 60 rice farmers and 60 rice seed growers in the selected panchayaths. Relevant data were also collected from Kerala State Seed Development Authority (KSSDA), Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) research stations and National Seeds Corporation (NSC). Rice seed supply chains in Kerala could be broadly classified into formal and informal system. The informal system constitutes farm saved seed and seed exchange among farmers, friends and relatives. The formal rice seed supply system constitutes institutionalized rice seed supply mechanisms. Major formal rice seed supply chains identified were KSSDA rice seed supply chain, KAU rice seed supply chain and NSC rice seed supply chain. Economic performance of rice seed production under the identified supply chains was analyzed using Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) cost concepts and Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR). BCR of rice seed production in KAU research farm was 0.76 followed by 0.89 for KSSDA and 1.04 for participatory rice seed production in KAU. Seed production systems in KAU research farms and KSSDA was found to be economically inefficient as indicated by the BCR values. Demand- supply gap in rice seed production was worked out as the difference between the quantity of high yielding variety seed required for the area reported and the quantity of seeds distributed through the formal supply chains. The demand supply gap over the years (2012 to 2016) ranged from 30 per cent to 50 per cent of the total demand indicating that 50-70 per cent of total rice seed demand was met through formal rice seed supply system. KSSDA was found to be the major source of rice seed supply (88.97 per cent) followed by NSC ( 8.57per cent) and KAU (2.46 per cent). Constraints faced by rice farmers in access to quality rice seed was analyzed using Garrett ranking technique. Timely availability of rice seed was the major constraint followed by poor rice seed quality. Analysis of constraints faced by seed growers have shown that lack of timely procurement and payment was the major constraint. Strengthening of seed production system with establishment of separate seed certification agency and sufficient seed storage and processing facilities at seed growers’ level was suggested.