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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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20201
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Subject: Agricultural Extension × Author: Aashika Sasindran × Author: KAU × Start date: 2017 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Participatory guarantee system (PGS) certification for production of organic vegetables: an analytical study
    (Department of Agriculture Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2020) Aashika Sasindran; KAU; Sherief, A K
    The study entitled ‘Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification for production of organic vegetables: An analytical study’ was undertaken during 2019-2020. The objectives were to study the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification for production of organic vegetables and to analyze the role of PGS farmers in the certification procedure, production and marketing among the VFPCK farmers in Kerala. The constraints faced during the implementation of PGS were also studied and appropriate suggestions are given to overcome the problems. The study was conducted in Kasargod, Idukki, Kottayam and Thrissur districts of Kerala which have maximum active number of PGS local groups under VFPCK. The sample comprised of 80 PGS farmers, out of which 20 respondents were selected from each district. Thirteen independent variables were selected through judge’s rating and role performance and adoption behaviour were the dependent variables selected. On analysis, it was found that 67.5 per cent of PGS farmers belonged to middle age (47-60) category, and 60 per cent of the respondents had education up to high school level. Majority of the respondents (55%) belonged to medium category of land holding with medium farming experience in organic farming (68.75%). About half (47.5%) of the organic farmers had medium level of annual income. More than half (53.75%) of PGS farmers did not possess organic certificate and majority of the PGS farmers belonged to the medium category of Information seeking behavior(66.25), environmental orientation (80%), attitude (77.25%), Knowledge (55%), sustainability (55%), market orientation (53.75%) and trainings acquired (68.75%). The analysis of PGS farmers based on their individual role performance revealed that 75 per cent of them belonged to medium category followed by 15 per cent in the high category and remaining 10 per cent in the low category. The distribution of farmers based on their role performance in the PGS group revealed that 72.5 per cent of them belonged to medium category and high and low category have equal (13.75%) respondents. The mean value of Individual role performance (38.86) is greater than mean value of group role performance (22.9), indicating a higher individual role performance among the PGS farmers. The results of factor analysis revealed that among the individual roles, respondents from all four districts showed characteristics of Individual task proficiency, Individual task adaptivity and individual task proactivity. Among the group roles, group member proactivity was displayed in all four districts, group member proficiency was displayed among the farmers of Kottayam and Kasargod and group member adaptivity was displayed among the farmers of Kasargod and Thrissur. The results of the adoption quotient revealed, that majority of PGS farmers i.e. 67.54 per cent belonged to medium category of adoption, followed by 17.5 and 15 per cent in low and high category of adoption. The mean adoption quotient (AQ) was 67.54 per cent with a maximum and minimum AQ of 81.66 and 51.94 per cent respectively. In case of the recommended practices, nine out of twenty four practices had an overall adoption percentage greater than 90. The results of the correlation revealed that out of 13 independent variables selected for the study, 10 variables were significantly related to the dependent variable adoption of organic methods recommended by PGS. The independent variables, viz., age and sustainability were significant at 1% level of significance followed by certificate status, experience in organic farming, training, information seeking behavior, market orientation, environmental orientation, attitude and knowledge at 5% level of significance The major constraints faced by the PGS farmers were lack of market linkage and satisfactory price for organic products. Unawareness of consumers about PGS certification remains as a barrier to farmers for proper marketing. Pest and wild animal attack and lack of government support are another constraints faced by farmers. The strategy to overcome these constraints is to develop proper market linkage by VFPCK and to recognize and brand the products as PGS organic among consumers. Moreover, Crop insurance and other incentives should be provided to the farmers who have suffered pest and animal attack. It could be concluded that, PGS was initiated as a credible, relevant and cost-effective mechanism through which farmers can provide a trust or guarantee of their products as organic to consumers. The findings of this study indicate that the individual role performance among registered PGS farmers is greater than group role performance. Also, the intensity of total adoption of organic practices was significantly high (67.5%) among the PGS farmers. For effective functioning, VFPCK should review their existing PGS in order to build their systems procedures that enable and encourage all their key stakeholders to take part in the design and implementation of their PGS.