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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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ThesisItem Open Access Performance analysis of agro-processing self-help groups in Thrissur district(Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2007) Lina, Joy; KAU; Prema, AThe present study on the "Performance analysis of agro-processing Self Help Groups in Thrissur district” was conducted to study the functioning of Self help Groups (SHGs), to identify the factors determining effective functioning and to study the constraints faced by the SHGs and provide suggestions for effective functioning. The study was taken up among Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna (SGSY) SHGs in Thrissur district. Five blocks having maximum percentage of agro-processing SHGs were selected. The activities undertaken by the agro-processing SHGs were classified under four groups i.e. fish processing, copra processing, powder making and ready to eat items making Group characteristics as the indicators of performance studied were group cohesion, group decision-making, group leadership, team spirit and maintenance of records. Copra processing unit obtained the highest rank in group characteristics. Profile characteristics studied were information seeking behaviour, innovativeness, risk orientation, economic motivation, management orientation, attitude towards self employment, knowledge about processing and market perception Powder making units were having the highest rank in profile characters Non performing groups showed the lowest score in both the group characteristics and in the profile characteristics Correlation analysis between group and profile characteristics revealed that management orientation was the major socio-economic variable affecting the group performance. Marketing channel for all the categories showed the lack of adequate forward and backward linkages. All the categories marketed their products within the district only. Packaging and traveling expense were the main items of the marketing cost Lack of common retail outlet for SHG products was the major constraint faced by SHGs in their marketing Cost of material input and labour cost were the main items in working capital of each category The copra processing units were having highest BC ratio (2.26) BC ratio of all the performing units were more than unity which indicated that all the units studied were running in profit The units were receiving a subsidy of 50 percent loan taken and they also received Rs10000 as revolving fund. All the units studied were having more than Rs 30,000 as thrift. The major constraints faced by the SHGs were the lack of concession regarding lending rate and lack of any aid from panchayat.ThesisItem Open Access Investment pattern in rural households of Ollukkara Block Panchayath in Thrissur District(Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2002) Pratheesh, V.S.; KAU; Thomas, E.K.Agriculture which is the back bone of Indian economy, is now heading towards a radical transformation. When the green revolution technology was introduced in the mid sixties, great expectations were raised as to the beneficial effects it could induce into every class of farmers and other sectors of the populations by increasing food production, employment opportunities and income levels. But its latter day performances have belied these expectations and it seemed that only those who have necessary absorptive capacity or infrastructure are only benefited. So for the betterment of agriculture there should be more and more investment both in the public and private sector. Under these circumstances the present study entitled "Investment Pattern in rural households of Ollukkara block panchayath in Thrissur district" is of high relevance and was conducted with the following objectives. 1. To study the different sources of income of rural people 2. To examine the savings and expenditure pattern 3. To analyze the nature of investment 4. To identify the constraints associated with investment in rural areas. The study was conducted in the sample selected at random from 50 numbers of Agricultural labourers, farmers and service sector people from the five wards selected from the total 74 wards in the Ollukkara block panchayath of Thrissur district. The data for the agricultural year 2001-2002 were collected using a well structured interview schedule. The study revealed that the mainsource of farm income in farmers and service sector people was crops where as for labourers it was livestock. On an average 81. 9 5 per cent of the total farm income was directed from the crops and only 18,95 was from livestock. Category wise analysis showed that net income and benefit cost ratio were much higher for labourer households and lowest for service sector people. 141 At the aggregate level, consumption expenditure accounted for 78.91 per cent, and the rest 21.09 per cent was for farm expenditure. Of the total, 78.09 per cent of farm expenditure was incurred for crops and only 21.91 per cent was made for livestock. The Category wise analysis showed that per household savings was highest for the service sector people followed by farmers and labourers. With respect to the gross farm investment, purchase of livestock was the most important item of investment followed by investment on land improvement, purchase of irrigation appliances, construction and repair of farm buildings and digging and repair of wells. The average rate of farm investment was only 1.53 per cent while the non farm investment was at the rate of 5.41 per cent. Lack of employment, High cost of living, and high loan out standing were reported as the most important constraint for investment along with constraints like non availability of labour, lack of irrigation etc.ThesisItem Open Access Integrated pest management in rice production: resource use efficiency and relative economics(Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2005) Saijyothi, D; KAU; Indira Devi, PThe present study entitled Integrated Pest Management in rice production: resource use efficiency and relative economics, was conducted in Kuttanad region of Kerala, India with the specific objectives of evaluating the economics of IPM technology over the traditional practice and to assess the resource use efficiency. The study pertaining to the summer crop in the area (November 2004 to February 2005) was undertaken during March to July 2005 A sample of 70 farmers each from IPM and Non-IPM category were selected by conducting a preliminary survey to categorise the farmers under each group. The production details of paddy were gathered from both the groups using a pretested structured questionnaire by personal interview method. The management under IPM programme starts from the very beginning of the crop calendar, starting with the varietal selection, its source, seed rate and method of planting. Though both types of farms were sowing only recommended varieties, seed rate was much above the recommended level in the case of non IPM group and they primarily relied on farm saved seeds. It was the reverse in the case of IPM farms. The level of application of fertilizers and soil ameliorants was lower in the case of IPM farms. Among the various inputs in crop production, labour was the most important single item of expenditure in paddy production. The total labour use in IPM farms was found to be 75 man-days per hectare i.e., 5.63 per cent higher than that of Non-IPM farms (71 man days per hectare). This is primarily due to the additional labour required in IPM farms for weeding (due to lesser amount of weedicide use), land preparation (additional ploughing), harvesting (higher yield) and IPM measures. Thus the total expenditure on seeds and sowing, fertilizer application and plant protection charges were 67.15 per cent higher in the Non-IPM group. Contrary to this, the expenditure on land preparation, weeding and harvesting operations together, were 11.93 per cent higher in IPM group. Total cost of cultivation was estimated as 5.07 per cent higher in Non-IPM group (Rs31536/ha) compared to IPM group (Rs 29841/ha) Apart from the cost saving, relatively higher yield (45.23 quintals per hectare) was also there in IPM farms compared to the other group.(44.46 quintals per hectare). The partial budgeting analysis have revealed that the cost saving coupled with higher yield realization in IPM farms has resulted in an additional net private gain in income to the tune of Rs 2824 per hectare Benefit cost ratio at Cost A1 was estimated as 1.85 (Non-IPM) and it was 2.06 for IPM farms inferring rice cultivation under IPM, as more beneficial than chemical based cultivation. At cost C3 level, the non IPM groups were more prone to risk as the BC Ratio was very close to unity Cobb-Douglas production function was fitted to assess the efficiency of resource use in paddy cultivation for both IPM and Non-IPM farms. It could be concluded that IPM farms were economically more efficient in resource utilization than the Non-IPM counter parts. Though most of the farmers were aware of the potential hazards of excessive chemical use in agriculture, and got exposed to adequate training, the spread of the technology is constrained by factors like, the perception of a yield loss, difficulties in water management and labour problems. But those who have adopted the technology was found to be aware of the short-term nature of yield reduction and cost saving aspects of the technology. The policy suggestions are made based on the findings and future line of work is also suggested.ThesisItem Open Access Price behaviour of natural rubber in India.(Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2011) Reeja, Varghese; KAU; Satheesh Babu, KNatural rubber, a product of vital commercial importance is recovered from the latex of the rubber tree, Hevea braziliensis. The present study entitled “Price behaviour of natural rubber in India” was conducted during 2010-11 based on the secondary data. The changes in area, production and productivity status of natural rubber in the world, India and Kerala were studied using the index numbers and compound growth rates. The compound growth rates in area, production and productivity of natural rubber in India were below the global growth rates, while that of Kerala was above the national level. India is emerging as the second largest consumer of natural rubber in the world. Consumption status of natural rubber in India showed that there is a growing deficit between domestic production and consumption of natural rubber in India. India was not a regular exporter of natural rubber, and therefore considerable fluctuations were observed in the export status depending on the domestic production level. The deficit in demand was met by imports. The import of natural rubber by Indian automobile industries grew annually by 12.37 per cent during the study period. The secular, seasonal, cyclical and irregular variations in rubber prices were studied using the techniques of classical decomposition of time series analysis. The trend in rubber prices in the domestic market at Kottayam and international market at Bangkok were captured by the single exponential smoothing model satisfactorily. The analysis showed that the RSS-4 prices in the Bangkok as well as the Kottayam markets were stagnant from January 1995 to April 2001, after which the prices showed an upward trend. The rubber prices were subjected to considerable seasonal variations due to the seasonality in production. In the international market, the peak price was observed in June and the trough price during the month of July, whereas in Kottayam market, the peak price was observed during May and the lowest price in the month of February. The rubber prices in the international as well as domestic markets were not subjected to pronounced price cycles. There were considerable irregular variations in rubber prices in both the markets. The rubber prices exhibited considerable instability in both the markets. Out of the different price forecasting models used to develop a reliable price forecasting model, the artificial neural network (ANN) model was found to be more reliable for predicting the price of RSS-4 in Kottayam market. However, no model could capture the underlying dynamics of rubber prices in the international market at Bangkok satisfactorily. The export competitiveness of Indian natural rubber was measured using nominal protection coefficient (NPC) under exportable hypothesis. It was found that Indian natural rubber was not export competitive during the study period. The market integration studies showed that Kottayam and Bangkok markets were integrated and there was a unidirectional influence of Bangkok market on the prices of natural rubber in Kottayam market, while the influence of Kottayam market on Bangkok market could not be established. The policy interventions suggested based on the study include efforts to increase the area under natural rubber in the non traditional rubber growing areas like North Eastern states, evolving technologies for enhancing the productivity of natural rubber in India to increase the income of farmers per unit cultivated area, improved tapping techniques to extend the tapping days, and to develop a multivariate price forecasting model. A reliable, regional market intelligence system for the natural rubber growers in the country to provide timely and reliable market information and intelligence is also suggested.ThesisItem Open Access Economic Analysis Of Production And Marketing Of Mushrooms(Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2000) Renjith Raja, R; KAU; Elsamma JobThe present study entitled the Economics of Production and Marketing of Mushroom was undertaken during the year 1999-2000. This study was conducted in Thiruvananthapuram district. This district was purposely selected for the study because mushroom growmg units on commercial basis are well established ill Thiruvananthapuram district. A sample of 100 growers who maintained contact with the training centres was selected. Each farmer was interviewed personally. Among the 100 sample farmers 36 were cultivating mushrooms and the remaining had given up cultivation. All the mushroom growers were post-stratified on the basis of nature of investment into Category-I (Temporary upto Rs.15000 ), Category-IT (Semi-permanent Rs.15000-25000) and Category-Ill (Permanent above Rs.25000) Tabular analysis was used to study the socio-economic features, to estimate the cost and returns, marketing cost and margins of mushrooms. Cost concepts were used to estimate the income measures. At aggregate level the total cost incurred for cultivation of mushroom was Rs. 8167.83. Material inputs accounted for about 82.85 per cent of the total working capital requirement for the sample as a whole. Hired labour component was absent in category-I. At aggregate level this accounted for 17.15 per cent total working capital requirement. Total working capital requirement for mushroom production was Rs. 3738.51. As compared to males, females were more in the working force, which shows the women's participation in mushroom cultivation. Explicit costs accounted for 45.77 percent of the total cost. Implicit cost accounted for 54.23 per cent of the total cost. Cost A], Bj, Cl, and C3 per crop cycle for the sample as a whole was Rs. 4144.95, Rs. 4522.91, Rs. 1425.30 and Rs. 8167.83. The total working capital requirement for producing 1 kilogram of spawn was Rs. 12.83. Explicit cost accounted for 71.60 per cent of the total cost. Implicit cost accounted for 28.40 per cent of the total cost. Cost AI, B), Cl, and C3 per kilogram' of spawn Rs. 14.25, Rs. 14.49, and Rs. 16.29, 17.92 respectively. Gross income from mushroom for the sample as a whole was Rs. 12118.60. Gross income from spawn production was Rs. 40.00 for one kilogram of , spawn. Farm business income was Rs. 7973.65 for mushroom production and farm business income of spawn was Rs 25.75. For the sample as a whole the family labour income was Rs. 7595.69. and Rs. 25.51 in the case of spawn production .. The net income from mushrooms was Rs. 3950.77 and from spawn production it was Rs. 22.08. Farm investment income was Rs. 4328.73 and Rs. 22.32 for mushrooms and spawn production. The Benefit-Cost ratio was 1.48. The operating ratio which represents the efficiency of variable costs was 0.31. Aggregate fixed ratio was 0.21. The Benefit-Cost ratio in spawn production was 2.23. The operating ratio was 0.32. Fixed ratio was 0.08 Cobb Douglas production function fitted with returns (rupees) as dependent variable and expenditure on inputs like straw, spawn and labour as independent variables revealed that additional expenditure on straw and spawn could increase the output. The input human labour was found to be in' excess use. The most important marketing channel identified for mushroom was . , Producer-Consumer. Producers share in consumer rupee was 75 per cent. The retailer reaped a net margin of25 per cent for which they did not incurred any cost. The major constraint faced by mushroom growers in production was low yield due to incidence of pest and diseases and among the marketing problems the major constraint identified was lack of awareness among consumers.ThesisItem Open Access Economics analysis of rice - fish sequential farming system In the low lying paddy fields of Kuttanad,Kerala(Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2001) Shanat Mathew, K; KAU; Joseph, K JThe present study on "Economic analysis of rice-fish sequential farming system in the low lying paddy fields of Kuttanad, Kerala" was aimed to analyse comparative economics of rice monocropping and rice-fish sequential farming systems, to quantity the employment generation capacity of the integrated system and to identify the constraints in the wide spread adoption of rice-fish sequential farming system. The study was undertaken during May - July 2000 and the data pertains to the year 1999. Data for the study was generated through sample survey of farmers by personal interview method using a pretested structured interview schedule. The study was conducted with a sample of 100 farmers for each system of cultivation. Two stage random sampling was adopted for the study. Tabular analysis was used to analyse the data. The cost of cultivation (cost C3) of rice under monocropping (Rs.23419.47 per hectare) and of rice under sequential farming system (Rs.1972S.31 per hectare) Was estimated. For fish, the cost of cultivation per hectare was Rs.6768.39. The major expenditure on input for rice cultivation under both systems and for fish was human labour. In rice monocropping, land preparation was observed to be the most expensive operation, whereas, in sequential farming weeding was the most expensive operation. In the case of fish cultivation, harvesting of fish turned out to be the most cost consuming operation. Gross income per hectare realized from the main as well as by product at the aggregate level was Rs.2S252.50, Rs.28371.00, and Rs.8782.95 for rice (monocropping), rice (sequential farming) and fish respectively. Cost of production per quintal of rice (monocropping) was Rs.64S.16 and for rice (sequential farming) was Rs.482.0S. For fish, cost of production per quintal of fish estimated to be Rs.1538.62. Benefi t cost ratio at cost C3 was found to be highest (1.44) in the rice cultivation under sequential farming. The corresponding figures for rice monocropping and fish were 1.08 and 1.30 respectively. This new system could provide on additional employment of 14.31 mandays per hectare. Even though this new integrated systems was profitable, lack of finance and non co-operation among farmers to an extend hinder the adoption of this practice. The major constraints experienced by the farmers in the cultivation were also identified.ThesisItem Open Access Economic Analysis Of Production And Marketing Of Vegetables In Thiruvananthapuram District(Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 2001) Nagesh, S S; KAU; Rageena, SThe present study on "Economic analysis of production and marketing of vegetables in Thiruvananthapuram district" was conducted with a view to examine the costs and returns of vegetable cultivation, employment generation, marketing efficiency, technical efficiency and problems encountered in production and marketing of vegetables. A comparative study of vegetable growers of KHDP and IVDP was also carried out. The data pertains to the year 1999-2000. The total explicit costs for IVDP and KHDP snakegourd growers were Rs. 62711.60 and Rs. 61448.40 respectively. Total implicit cost was worked out at Rs. 64956.90 and Rs. 58140.20 respectively for IVDP and KHDP growers. Bitter gourd was the only crop, which recorded a benefit-cost ratio higher than one at cost C3. The total cost of cultivation (Cost C3) ranged from the lowest of Rs. 64313.70 for amaranth us to as high as Rs. 134135.60 for bittergourd. Bittergourd was the most remunerative crop in the area with a gross return of Rs. 206065.20 for KHDP and a benefit cost ratio of 1.53 at cost C3. Cost of organic manure occupied the highest share of the total cost of cultivation of all the three crops. The KHDP bittergourd growers showed an estimated mean technical efficiency of 80 per cent and for IVDP growers it was 71 per cent. In the study area most of the vegetable producers marketed their produce in the markets in Thiruvananthapuram city. The marketing efficiency was highest for bittergourd (l.99) followed by snake gourd (l.31) and amaranthus (0.83). The major constraints experienced in cultivation were incidence of pests and diseases, unavailability of quality seeds at reasonable cost, lack of credit availability and lack of .marketing facilities.ThesisItem Open Access Production and marketing systems of vetiver : a micro-level analysis in Thrissur district(Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2002) Deepakumar, V S; KAU; Satheesh Babu, KThe present study entitled " Production and marketing systems of vetiver : a micro-level analysis in Thrissur district" was conducted with the objective of working out the cost of production and returns of vetiver cultivation, to study the marketing channels, and to identify production and marketing problems encountered by vetiver growers of the area. The data pertains to the period from January 2000 to December 2000. Eighty commercial farmers who cultivated vetiver for more than three years were selected at random, and the information required for the study were collected by personal interview using a structured, pre-tested schedule of enquiry . • The cost of cultivating one hectare of vetiver was worked out to Rs. 117975, Rs. 101760 and Rs. 93533 at cost C3 for the category I (less than 0.50 ha), category 11 (0.50 - l.0 ha) and category III (more than l.0 ha) farmers respectively. Organic manures constituted the major item of expenditure, constituting 29 per cent of the paid out cost. This was followed by expenditure on hired human labour, which accounted for 26 per cent of the explicit cost. The cost of production of one kilogram of dry vetiver root at cost C3 were Rs. 12.27, Rs. 12.77 Rs. 6.85 and Rs. 1l.57 respectively for the cat~gories I, 11, III and the sample as a whole. On an average vetiver farmer had a gross income of Rs. 126644 per hectare. The net income for the three categories of farmers were Rs. 2931, Rs. 14352 and Rs. 90998 per hectare for the categories I, 11 and III respectively. The BCR estimated at cost C3 were found to be more than unity for the entire category of farmers. The entire marketing system was organized in the private sector. The Producer - Wholesaler - Processor - Consumer, and Producer - Wholesaler - Drug Dealer - Consumer were the two major marketing channels identified in the area. The economic efficiency of marketing measured by the modified Shepherd's Index indicated that both local and interstate markets were efficient, with a value of more than unity. The main production related constraints were non-availability of institutional credit and dependency on private money lenders, increase in rental charges of land and escalating fuel charges for the irrigation system. Year-to-year fluctuation of vetiver root price, delayed settlement of transactions and risk of losing weight during storage were the major marketing related problems .ThesisItem Open Access Economic analysis of production and marketing of kaipad paddy in kannur district(Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2014) Radhika, A M; KAU; Anil, KuruvilaThe present study entitled “Economic analysis of production and marketing of Kaipad paddy in Kannur district” was conducted with the objectives of working out the costs and returns of Kaipad paddy cultivation, estimating the magnitude and the factors contributing to the yield gap, identifying the marketing channels and the price spread in different channels, finding out the constraints in production and marketing of Kaipad paddy and documenting the cultural practices of Kaipad paddy cultivation. The study was based on both primary and secondary data. The study was conducted in Kaipad tracts of Kannur district and primary data were collected by means of formal interviews from farmers, traders and market-intermediaries. The farmers in the study area were categorised into five groups on the basis of farming practices followed as farmers growing traditional variety, farmers growing traditional Kaipad and shrimp in sequence, farmers growing HYV (Ezhome-l/Ezhome-2), farmers growing HYV (Ezhome-1 / Ezhome-2) and shrimp in sequence and paddy farmers from non-saline areas adjacent to Kaipad. From each of the five categories, l5 farmers were selected from each of the Panchayat. A sample of 30 farmers was randomly selected from each group, thus making a total sample size of 150 farmers. Cost-return structure was worked out both for Kaipad and conventional paddy production using percentage analysis and cost concepts. The cost of cultivation (Cost C2- Rs.67128) was highest in the case of farmers growing HYV without shrimp in sequence. The cost of production of HYV was higher than the costs incurred for growing traditional varieties and the average income from the HYV was more than the income from traditional varieties. The highest average gross income of Rs.61741/ha was obtained by farmers growing HYV and shrimp in sequence while it was lowest for the farmer respondents growing traditional variety without shrimp in sequence. Family labour income was estimated to be negative in the category of farmers growing traditional variety. The net income and Benefit Cost Ratio indicated that the farming is a loss making business in Kaipad region, especially when the value of the family labour, the land value and the managerial cost were accounted in the cost. Yield gap was estimated and factors contributing to the yield gap were analysed using regression analysis. Among the farmers growing Ezhome-1without shrimp in sequence, the total yield gap was 747 Kg, which was 21 per cent of the potential yield whereas for farmers growing Ezhome-2 without shrimp in sequence, the total yield gap added to 847 Kg and it accounted for about 26 per cent of the potential yield. When Ezhome-1 and Ezhome-2 were grown with shrimp in sequence, the total yield gap was 601 and 497 respectively. The share of yield gap II in the total yield gap was found to be 38 per cent and 43 per cent respectively for Ezhome-1 and Ezhome-2 with shrimp in sequence, while it was 78 and 91 per cent for Ezhome 1 and Ezhome 2 without shrimp in sequence. In farms growing traditional varieties age was influencing yield gap positively while labour use in man days was found to be negatively influencing the yield gap. In the case of farms growing HYV, seed rate and education were significantly reducing yield gap. For the fitted log-linear yield function for all farms, age was found to be positively influencing yield gap while the seed rate and education were negatively influencing yield gap. The four marketing channels identified were, (i) farmer – rice miller – retailers -consumer (ii) farmer - local agent - rice miller- retailer - consumer (iii) farmer - local agent - Padasekhara-samithis - consumer (iv) farmer - consumer. The price spread was estimated as Rs.16.3 in channel I, Rs.17.51 in channel II, Rs.2.97 in channel III and Rs.3.85 in channel IV respectively. The marketing efficiency was found to be highest in channel III. Various constraints in production and marketing of paddy were identified and ranked using Garret’s ranking technique. Among the various constraints faced by farmers, high wage cost and scarcity of hired labour were the major ones. Low price realized for the produce was the foremost constraint faced in marketing of paddy. Since labour cost accounted for the major share in cost of cultivation and labour scarcity was the major constraint, efforts have to be made for mechanisation in Kaipad cultivation. The production must be increased by bridging the yield gap and thereby increasing the marketable surplus. Taking advantage of the GI status of Kaipad paddy, efforts are to be made for marketing it as a premium priced branded organic produce.
