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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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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Comparative study on the economic efficiency of different sources of irrigation in Chittur development block
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1990) Kalyana Krishnan, S; KAU; Prabhakaran, T
    A study was conducted in Chittur Development Block to compare the economic efficiencies of different sources of irrigation in the area. Kunnamkattupathy Village in the Block was purposively selected for this. The objectives were to (a) compare the principal sources of Irrigation with respect to their adequacy and influence over cropping pattern# (b) to estimate the cost and technical co-efficients on farms (c) to develop optimal plans- for farms differing with respect to source of irrigation and (d) to suggest means for optimal use of irrigation water. Stratified random sampling was the technique used to select farms and pretested schedule was used to gather information from the farmers of the village. The study area had four different systems of irrigation, viz.,canal, canal + well, well and spout fed well. Relevent data were collected from twenty samples each of canal fed, well fed and rainfed farms and fifteen samples each of canal with well and spout fed well irrigated farms, by personal interview. Average area per farm was 6.04 acres with canal fed farms having the lowest area# of 3.59 acres and spout fed well irrgated farms having the highest average area of 8.18 acres. Farms of the sample area were evenly distributed between the black loam and red loam soils. Paddy was the dominant crop being cultivated in irrigated farms and groundnut was the dominant one in rainfed farms. Season wise cropped area indicated a general pattern of paddy 1st crop and groundnut Iand crop in the Irrigated farms. Rainfed farms concentrated on low water requiring crops, rather than paddy. Cropping intensity in irrigated farms was 177.20% while that of rainfed farms was only 158.31%. Most of the farmers deriving benefit of canal water either directly or indirectly felt that their water requirement was being met adequately while majority of farmers depending ground water alone felt that their requirement of water is being met only partially.