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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: Jayakumar, V × End date: 2004 × Start date: 2001 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Economics of commercial production and utilisation of medicinal rice (Oryza sativa L.) Njavara
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2003) Jayakumar, V; KAU; Indira Devi, P
    The present study on the economics of commercial production and utilization of medicinal rice, njavara was conducted ill Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram and Wayanad districts, with the objective of assessing the economics of production and .. marketing prospects of njavara and documenting the Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) associated with its cultivation and use. The required information was collected from a sample of 60 njavara farmers from the above four districts by personal interview method using well structured, pre- tested questionnaire. The marketing aspects were studied by contacting producers, market intermediaries and end users, by personal in.erview method. The Indigenous Technical Knowledge were gathered from the producers, traditional vaidyas, ayurvedic medical practitioners and elderly people in the locality. The data collection was conducted during April- July 2003 . The cost of cultivation of njavara (Cost C3) was estimated as Rs.14059/hectare.The district wise analysis revealed that it was the highest for Malappuram and lowest for Palakkad, whereas in class wise analysis it was higher for • class I than class II The cost incurred on seeds was Rs.1860.87/hectare. Human labour was the highest single item of expenditure. The average labour use per hectare of njavara . cultivation was 72.50 man days/hectare. Female labour constituted a major share of total labour use. On an average it was 56.55 days/hectare during a crop cycle. Except land preparation all major activities are carried out by wemen. Post harvest operations demand the highest labour use. But, land preparation is the most expensive activity, as the wage rate for men was higher than that of the women. Nearly one fourth of the total cost was for this. Average yield from njavara crop was found to be much less than other rice varieties (1528.25 kg/hectare). It is only 70 percentage of the average yield of rice in the state. The yield in Palakkad and Malappuram districts were higher than the other two. Large farms enjoyed better yield The grain to straw yield was in the ratio of 1 :2.5. The Gross income from the crop was found to be RS.28928/ha. Farm business income, the most relevant from the farmer's' point of view was more in PaIakkad district (Rs.30416/hectare) compared to other districts. The same applies to all other income estimates. The farmers of Palakkad enjoy a net income of RS.23487/hectare while the average was Rs. 14849/hectare. The cost of production was Rs.7.68/kg.• Despite the lowest cost of cultivation, the cost of production was (at Cost Ci) highest in Wayanad (Rs.9.92/kg). The average benefit cost ratio based on cost C3was 2.03.1t was the highest for Palakkad (2.72) The marketable surplus accounted for 90.33 per cent (1380.50 kg/hectare) of the total produce and it increased with the increase in the size of holding. In the study area six major marketing channels were identified. Among this the most witlely adopted channel was I producer-s ayurvedic drug manufacturing unit (around 28 per cent). The Indigenous Technical Knowledge associated with the cultivation and use of the crop is compiled and listed.