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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 Extension × Author: Akhil Krishnan, U × Author: KAU × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2017 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Impact of training programmes on farm mechanisation - a case study
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2017) Akhil Krishnan, U; KAU; Helen, S
    Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy had provided training to 236 groups and about 5203 trainees, including 2910 males and 2293 females, till 2016. They attended the training for learning the operation and repair and maintenance of the farm machineries. Each and every group of the trainees who had undergone the training were enrolled as a society, named as AMOSC (Agro Machinery Operation Service Center) according to the draft byelaw formulated under 1955, 12thAct Travancore Cochin Literary Science and Charitable Trust Registration Act. The list of trainees of the training conducted on farm mechanization in the central zone of Kerala viz., Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam by Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy was collected from Central Training Institute, Mannuthy. Among the trainees a sample size of 60 trainees belonged to Central Kerala were selected as respondents using simple random sampling technique. Apart from the selected 60 respondents, 5 successful cases of respondent groups were identified for conducting case study. The five respondent groups selected were Food Security Army, Venoor, Food Security Army, Palliyakkal, Food Security Army, Kodumbu, Food Security Army, Irinjalakuda and Food Security Army, Pampakuda. The data gathered from the respondents were scored classified and examined by utilizing simple non parametric statistical techniques. Based on the feedback of respondents obtained after pilot study and discussion with the experts in Agricultural Extension, the interview schedule was prepared and finalized. The researcher had collected data from the respondents using the pre-tested interview schedule. Focused Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted in both Panchayaths and Key informant interviews were done for qualitative data collection. 111 Data was analyzed using percentage analysis, Spearman Rank Order Correlation, Henry garrett ranking method, Wilcoxon ranking method and index method. Salient findings of the study are presented below:  Majority of the respondents belonged to middle age (71.66 %) followed by old age (15 %).  Almost equal percentage of males (48 %) and females (52 %) participated in the training on farm mechanization conducted by Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy during the period of 2013-2015.  With regard to educational status of the respondents, more than 50 per cent of the trainees had plus two level of education followed by 23 per cent with a high school education.  Occupational status of the respondents revealed that 45 per cent of the farmers had ‘Agricultural and allied activities’ as their major occupation. Almost equal per cent of the respondents possessed their primary occupation as ‘Agricultural labourer’.  As far as secondary occupation was concerned majority of the respondents worked as ‘Agricultural labourer’ consisting of 28.33 per cent followed by ‘Non agricultural labourers (10 %).  Most of the respondents earned low income (46.67 %) for their livelihood and led a life of hand to mouth existence.  Among the different categories of family size, 51.67 per cent of them had 4 members followed by 5 members (28.33 %) in their family.  Majority of the respondents owned (58.33%) less than 50 cents of land area. Hence they could not entirely depend on farming, but they involved in group farming activities and agricultural labour.  Social participation of respondents showed that all the trainees became members of Food Security Army and 13 per cent functioned as office bearers. 112  Majority of the respondents (30 %) regularly attended meetings of service co- operatives and 28.33 per cent of the members regularly attended meetings in Mahila mandals.  Based on the type of mass media and frequency of their usage, 58 per cent of the respondents watched television regularly. Half of the respondents (50 %) listened to radio. And only 25 per cent and 3 per cent of the respondents read regularly news papers and magazines respectively. There were no respondents who used bulletins, books and internet regularly.  About 90 per cent of the trainees had attended only one training on farm mechanization. And only 11 per cent of the respondents purchased machinery like brush cutter, garden tiller and coconut climbers on their own after the training.  The institutions supported the members of food security army in terms of finance and technical guidance were Block panchayaths, Krishi Bhavans, Service Co Operative Banks and ARS, Mannuthy.  Besides, ARS Mannuthy provided training to the FSA, supplied uniforms and supported for the maintenance of the machinery of the FSAs. Some of the groups were engaged in marketing of seedlings and the seeds were provided by ARS, Mannuthy.  Considering motivational factors, the level of achievement motivation of the trainees and level of confidence was medium among majority of the respondents.  Majority of the respondents (40 %) adopted the innovations after seeing others trying it out successfully.  The degree of scientific orientation and extent of risk orientation was medium among the trainees. Regarding the utilization of credit, most of the trainees (above 90%) did not utilize it from institutional or non-institutional credit sources. The increase in indebtedness of the trainees after attending the training might be because of availing loan for meeting their personal and family needs as their income from farm mechanization was meagre and forced them to subsistence level of living. 113  Majority of the trainees (88 %) agreed that they learned repairing farm machineries after training. With regard to back home utility after attending the training on farm mechanization, majority of the respondents were under medium category.  The parameters studied for assessing back home utility revealed that the training created a positive impact among the trainees.  SWOC analysis explained the major strength of the training on farm mechanization was field level hands on training with an index value of 96.33 and weakness of the training was less duration of training with an index value 71.37. The major opportunity perceived by the trainees of farm mechanization was ‘opening avenue for group farming’, which secured an index of 95.53 and the major challenge was repair and maintenance of machines with an index value of 86.67.  Most important constraint faced by the trainees was non feasibility of the farm machinery in all the regions with an average score of 63.60