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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: KAU × End date: 1994 × Start date: 1994 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Economic status of agricultural labourers in Thiruvananthapuram district
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1994) Unnikrishnan, G; KAU; Venugopalan, S
    The study ‘Economic status of agricultural labourers in Thiruvananthapuram district’ was carried out with the following objectives. 1. To understand the levels of employment, under employment and unemployment of the agricultural labourers of Thiruvananthapuram district. 2. To study the wages rates and modes of payment of the wages. 3. To estimate the income levels of the ALHH. 4. To assess the expenditure pattern of the ALHH. 5. To estimate the extent of poverty , if any 6. To estimate the levels of indebtedness and savings. 7. To assess the support through the various welfare programmes for the selected households. 8. To understand details such as social participation, cosmopoliteness, aspiration levels etc. 9. To study the levels of political participation of the ALHH The study was conducted in the Neyyatinkara subdivision of the district in 4 randomly selected krishibhavans. Sample size of the study was 120 and equal number of respondents were selected from each of the 4 Krishibhavans. Personal interviews were conducted to collect the data from the respondents with the help of a pre-tested and well structured questionnaire. The variables used in the study included basic family particulars, education level of the respondent, level of employment and details of wages, land holding size and land holding pattern, possession of farm implements, consumer durables, livestock status, value of permanent assets, dependence on the PDS, income and expenditure pattern of the households, benefits from welfare programmes, indebtedness and savings levels of the households, social participation and other relevant characteristics which are useful in measuring the economic status of a household. For measuring the variables suitable scales were used which were used by earlier researchers with modifications wherever needed and in some cases suitable scales and classes were formed. Data collected was coded, tabulated and analysed with suitable statistical tools. Some of the important findings of this study are 1. Majority of the house holds were thatched ones and family compositions mainly nuclear. 2. The average family size was four and large proportion of the labourers belonged to the age group 35-55. 3. About 67 per cent of the labourers were moderately under employed and 23 percent severly underemployed. 4. Wage rates of both male and female labourers were above the minimum wage rates fixed by the government and was mainly paid in cash only. 5. Disparity was seen in wages for male and female labourers, the latter earning only about 70 per cent of the former, per day even though working hours were same for both. 6. Average annual income per household was about Rs 29887 and percapita income was about Rs 8078. 7. Eighty nine percent of the ALHH depended wholly or partially on the PDS to fulfill their food requirements. 8. Cereals had the highest share in food expenses for majority of households and food expenses formed the major share in total expenses 9. Expenditure was significantly and directly related with income. 10. It was observed that 18 percent of the ALHH were below and 21 percent marginally above the poverty line based on consumption expenditure. 11. Anti-poverty programmes were yet to reach one third of the population and even the benefited households got only a meager amount per household. 12. Dependence for credit by the ALHH was equal on both formal and non-formal agencies and 84 percent of them had availed credit. 13. Sixty five percent of the households that availed credit had amounts overdue against them. 14. Financial base of the households was unstable at all levels of income. 15. Family size and number of days of employment was inversely and significantly related to credit amount overdue. 16. About half of the total households had no savings and the others mainly invested in non-formal agencies only. 17. Social participation level was low for most of the ALHH. 18. Most of the ALHH were highly exposed to mass media, had high levels of health and hygiene, cosmopoliteness and aspirations. 19. Majority of the respondents were members of registered political parties and had high political awareness. The results obtained from the study was similar to those obtained in earlier studies with regard to most of the variables. The agricultural labourers were still poor and down-trodden and their upliftment needs greater attention than that given now. By proper policy modifications and implementation it can be made sure that their upliftment is not a herculian task.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Economic analysis of rice production in Kuttanad and kole areas of Kerala
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Mohandas, K; KAU; Thomas, E K
    The present investigation on economic analysis of rice production in Kuttanad and kole areas of Kerala was undertaken during the agricultural year 1992-93. The study aimed at comparing costs and returns, measure productivity of farm resources, examine the possibility of increasing incomes by reallocating the existing resources and examining the marketed surplus and factors contributing to it and to identify the constraints in rice production. Data for the study was generated through a sample survey of farmers. Two stage random sampling was adopted for the study. The largest single item of cost of operation was fertilizer and its application cost for both Kuttanad and kole. The largest single item of input was labour in both the areas. Cost A1, cost A2, cost B1, cost B2, cost C1 and cost C2 per hectare were Rs.9953.03, Rs.9953.02, Rs.9953.02, Rs.13090.68, Rs.10099.82 and Rs.13237.48 respectively for Kuttanad and Rs.9566.17, Rs.9566.17, Rs.9566.17, Rs.12256.35, Rs.9706.17 and Rs.12396.35 respectively for kole area. The income measures in relation to different cost concepts, in rice cultivation such as gross income, farm business income , family labour income, net income and benefit cost ratio were Rs.15688.30, Rs.5735.28, Rs.2597.62, Rs.2450.82 and 1.19 respectively for Kuttanad and Rs.13450.91, Rs.3884.74, Rs.1194.56, Rs.1054.56 and 1.09 respectively for kole area. The average per hectare yield in quintals of rice in Kuttanad was 37.72 excluding harvest charges paid in kind and 47.15 including kind portion. Corresponding values for kole area were 32.53 and 40.66 quintals respectively. Benefit cost ratio calculated both by excluding and including the kind portion of the produce were 1.19 and 1.14 respectively for Kuttanad. The corresponding benefit-cost ratios for kole area were 1.09 and 1.07 respectively. Bulk line cost on C2 basis was Rs.4000 per tones for Kuttanad and Rs.4600 per tonne for kole area. Production function analysis done separately for the two areas revealed that contribution of independent variables namely machine labour, human labour and fertilizer towards gross income was found to be significant and positive for both the areas. The estimated percentage increase in gross income with one per cent increase in these three inputs came to 0.12 per cent, 0.46 per cent and 0.39 per cent respectively for Kuttanad area. For kole area, the corresponding values are 0.09 per cent, 0.51 per cent and 0.28 per cent respectively. The sum of the elasticities of production function for Kuttanad and kole were 0.9748 and 0.8936 respectively, and indicated diminishing returns to scale. Marginal value productivity to factor-cost ratios showed that a rupee invested in the three inputs, viz., machine labour, human labour and fertilizer will add Rs.5.25, Rs.1.47 and Rs.2.33 respectively in Kuttanad and Rs.2.78, Rs.1.42 and Rs.1.42 respectively for kole area, if the farmer has unlimited amount of money. Under limited resource conditions, optimum levels of inputs such as machine labour, human labour and fertilizer were worked out for both the areas. For Kuttanad to achieve maximum production, the expenditure on machine labour, and fertilizer should be enhanced from the existing level whereas the expenditure on human labour should be reduced. In the case of kole area, the expenditure on machine labour should be enhanced while the same on human labour should be reduced. The analysis also showed that by re-allocating the existing resources farmers could increase their income by 16.61 pr cent at the aggregate level in Kuttanad. Marketing analysis revealed that the marketed surplus amounted for 69.17 per cent of the total produce in Kuttanad and 67.89 per cent of the total produce in kole area. For the sample as a whole marketed surplus accounted for 68.92 per cent of the total produce. The quantity given as wages came to 18.06 per cent and 14.89 per cent of the total produce in Kuttanad and kole areas respectively. Around 10.28 and 14.93 per cent of the total produce was used for farm household consumption in Kuttanad and kole areas. The quantity used for seed purpose was 2.49 and 2.29 per cent of the total produce in Kuttanad and kole areas respectively. Multiple regression analysis to estimate the factors determining the marketed surplus for the sample as a whole revealed that productivity is the only significant variable. Non-availability of labour and their increased costs, weed infestation and incidence of pests and diseases were perceived by the farmers as the important constraints to rice production in both the areas. Salinity and acidity followed by the problem of submergence formed the fifth and sixth major constraints in Kuttanad. In kole submergence formed the fifth constraint followed by the problem of acidity and salinity.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Economics of arecanut cultivation in Kasargod district
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Dineshkumar, E V; KAU; Mukudan, K
    A study on the economics of arecanut cultivation in Kasaragod district was conducted during the period 1991-92 to evaluate the costs and returns, capital productivity, resource use efficiency of yielding plantation and the problems of arecanut cultivators. Three stage random sampling was adopted for the study and the data were collected from a sample of 144 cultivators by personal interview method. Total cost of cultivation for 11 years was estimated to be Rs.107133/- for the district, in terms of 1991-92 prices. The major item of expenditure was human labour constituting about 44.75 per cent of the total cost. Manures and fertilizers accounted for 25.92 per cent and cost on plant protection accounted for 9.27 per cent of the total cost for 11 years. The cost of production per quintal was estimated as Rs.1539/- for the district. Pay back period was found to be 8.91 years. Benefit cost ratio was calculated as 2.29. Net present worth was Rs.95506/- and internal rate of return was calculated to be 27.64 per cent. The factors manures and fertilizers and irrigation were found to have significant influence on the gross income obtained from an arecanut garden. The marginal value product of these inputs were found to be 1.262 and 7.07 respectively. High input costs, serious disease problems and difficulties associated with marketing were some of the general problems faced by the sample farmers.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Economics of milk production in the Thrissur district
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Sreejith, T K; KAU; Prabhakaran, T
    etc. The study entitled “Economics of milk production in the Thrissur district” was undertaken to study the economics of the milk production , to work out the income elasticities, to understand the marketing channels for milk and to work out the resource use efficiency in milk production with regard to certain explanatory variables such as labour cost, cost of oil cake, compound feed, straw and other types of feeds fed per day. The study was conducted using primary and secondary sources of data. Production, consumption and prices of milk and major inputs used in the production of milk for the state as a whole were analysed using secondary data. Engel functions were fitted to estimate income elasticities by taking expenditure on milk and milk products by the various monthly per capita expenditure groups. Primary data pertaining to socio-economic characteristics, livestock position, production and marketing aspects, feeding, labour and other expenses and details of cash farm income from milk, consumption pattern of milk and major sale outlets for milk were collected with the help of structured schedule from 120 sample households selected by multi-stage random sampling method. In addition to tabular analysis, functional relationship between milk yield and relevant variables were studied by fitting Cobb-Douglas production function for one lactational period. The study revealed that the overall milk production in Kerala was increasing over the years. The milk production of crossbred cows was also increasing but that of the non-descript cows was also increasing but that of the non-descript cows showed a fluctuating trend over the last 10 years. The Engel function fitted using the National Sample Survey (NSS) data on milk and milk products in Kerala showed that the income elasticities estimated for the function (log-linear) was lower than unity, but positive, in the 38th and the 43rd rounds of NSS for rural as well as urban households. This revealed that the expenditure incurred on these items increased less than proportionate to their incomes. The rise in prices of these commodities between the two periods might have led consumers to spend proportionately less of their income during 1987-88 compared to the amount spent during 1983 although aggregate expenditure increased from 1983 to 1987-88. The economics of milk production revealed that the major cost involved for maintaining a cow-in-milk was feed cost followed by labour cost, veterinary and miscellaneous charges. The farm returns increased with increase in output among the sample households. Though the farm returns did not cover the total cost incurred by the households, it covered the feed cost and other cash costs incurred by the producers. The study also revealed that except those households with low productive animals all others were making gross profit from dairying but the net profit was negative among almost all households. The importance of milk co-operatives and their effective and dominant role in the marketing of milk has been confirmed by this study. The production function analysis carried out showed the scope for increasing the efficient use of various resources. Hence it is recommended that in order to enhance the milk production, farmers have to use the various resources more effectively and efficiently… On account of limitation of resources the sampling design followed in this study did not include the lactation stage of the animals as one of the sampling criteria, and each sample household was contacted only once and the data often relate to the period just prior to the investigation date. So the cost of production studies should be considered only as an indicative of average pattern prevailing. The observations may also suffer from biases in the secondary data.