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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: Allan Thomas × End date: 2007 × Start date: 2000 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Problems and prospects of medicinal plant cultivation in Thiruvananthapuram district
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2000) Allan Thomas; KAU; Padmanabhan, V B
    A research study entitled "Problems and prospects of medicinal plant cultivation in Thiruvananthapuram district" was undertaken with a view to assess the knowledge of the medicinal plant cultivators on the medicinal value of the plants cultivated by them, to identify the training need of the cultivators in medicinal plant cultivation, to study the market orientation of the cultivators, to analyse the cost-benefit relationship of medicinal plant cultivation and to identify the problems and solutions in medicinal plant cultivation. One hundred medicinal plant cultivators were selected from the four taluks of Thiruvananthapuram district using stratified random sampling technique with proportionate allocation. Data were collected by using a structured interview schedule. Knowledge was assessed by developing a knowledge test for the study. Training need was identified using the method developed by Bhatnagar (1987). Market orientation was studied by using the method developed by Anantharaman (1991), which included identification of marketing channels and analysis of cost- benefit relationship of medicinal plant cultivation by using input-output analysis in terms of economic aspects of medicinal plant cultivation. Problems and solutions in medicinal plant cultivation as perceived by the cultivators, procurers and retail shop dealers were identified by using open-end questions. Ranking was done to identify the importance of the problems and solutions. Majority of the medicinal plant cultivators had medium to high-level knowledge on the medicinal value of the plants cultivated by them. The independent variables, namely, age, farming experience, experience in medicinal plant cultivation, farm size, area under medicinal plant cultivation, annual income, income from medicinal plant cultivation, extension contact, extension participation, mass media exposure and information seeking behaviour were having significant and positive relationship with knowledge. The variable education was found to have no relationship with knowledge on medicinal value of plants cultivated by them. Marketing was perceived as the most important area of training at knowledge level followed by processing, storing, seeds and sowing, harvesting, land preparation, manuring, weeding, plant protection and irrigation in the descending order of importance whereas for training need at skill level, processing was holding first preference followed by harvesting, storing, marketing, seeds and sowing, land preparation, plant protection, manuring, weeding and irrigation. Market orientation of the cultivators was studied under two heads, namely, identification of marketing channels and analysis of cost-benefit relationship of medicinal plant cultivation. Among the marketing channels identified, the producer-dealer-ayurvedic medicine manufactures was the channel through which bulk of the produces were marketed. The cost-benefit relationship of medicinal plant cultivation revealed that it was a profitable enterprise. The problems identified in the descending order of importance by medicinal plant cultivators, procurers and retailers were, pre-harvest and post-harvest handling, lack of storage facilities unorganised marketing, non availability of genuine planting materials, lack of developmental and extension service, lack of research work for developing new varieties, lack of credit/loan facilities, lack of cultivators package of practices, over- exploitation of wild medicinal plants, fluctuations in market price, substitution and adulteration, confusion with respect to identification of the species, inexorable monetisation of medicinal plant economy, absence of practical training, climate and soil and lack of co-ordination among medicinal plant cultivators. Training of farmers in pre-harvest and post-harvest handling of medicinal plant produce, providing suitable storage facilities, creating a regulated market for the medicinal plant produces, ensuring regular and timely supply of genuine planting materials through government and service agencies, initiating more research for developing new varieties of improved medicinal properties, providing credit or loans through institutionalised agencies at low interest rates, providing the farming community with a unique and standardised package of practices recommendations of an authentic expertise body, conserving the wild economically important medicinal plant species and initiating participatory and group approaches in medicinal plant cultivation only can help the farmers to solve the aforesaid problems. Medicinal plants are a national treasure. Preventing extinction and preserving the great Indian medicinal heritage is of much importance. With the advent of 21 st century due to global search for "alternatives" in health care, there is a tremendous resurgence of interests in traditional system of medicines by popularising medicinal plant cultivation.