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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: KAU × End date: 1990 × Start date: 1990 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Utilization of biogas technology by the farmers of Palakkad
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1990) Latha, A; KAU; Muraleedhara Prasad, R
    A - study \/as undertaken to analyse the extent of utilization of biogas technology by the farmers of Palakkad district of Kerala State in relation to their attitude, perception and motivational pattern in the adoption of biogas technology. The respondents selected for study included both users (n = 80) and non-users (n - 80) of biogas technology. The study revealed that there was no significant difference in the attitude of users and non-users towards, biogas technology. Among the six attributes of biogas technology studied in relation to perception, simplicity obtained the highest rank -followed by fuel efficiency, profitability, fertilizer efficiency, need compatibility and lot; cost in that order. 'Safety' was indicated as the most important motive governing the adoption of biogas technology and prestige motive, the least important. Among the selected.independent variables, utilization of interpersonal sources of information, perception about the efficiency of biogas technology, indebtedness, utilization of ether sources of fuel and innovation proneness were found .significant in predicting the maximum variation in attitude of users towards biogas technology, while utilization of interpersonal sources of information, family educational status,social participation; availability of other sources of fuel and educational status were important in predicting the attitude of non-users. Utilization of interpersonal sources of information, utilization of other sources of fuel, indebtedness, livestock possession and educational status were found significant in predicting the perception of users about the efficiency of biogas technology. 'Mixing slurry everyday is a botheration' was expressed by users as the most important constraint in utilization of biogas technology followed by low gas production during monsoon' and 'need for constant care of the plant. Most of the non-users had not adopted the technology due to the botheration for maintenance of the plant, availability of plenty of firewood and high installation cost of the plant.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Farm telecast viewing behaviour of farmers
    (Department of Agricultural extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1990) Shahila, Rose J S; KAU; Mohammed, Hussain
    This study entitled “Farm Telecast Viewing Behaviour of Farmers” was carried out in Nedumangadu Taluk of Trivandrum district with the following objectives: 1. To study the viewing behavior of farmers in relation to the farm telecast 2. To study the preferences of programmes, mode, time and duration of farm telecast by the farmers 3. To find out the factors influencing the viewing behavior of farmers 4. To suggest steps, if any, to improve the farm telecast programme The charecteristics of farmers included in the study were age, educational status, occupation, annual income, social participation, mass media exposure, cosmopoliteness, innovation proneness, scientific orientation, economic motivation and attitude towards Nattinpuram programme. The dependent variable viewing behaviour was measured using the procedure developed for the study. The available measurement techniques and scoring system were used for independent variables such as social participation (Selvakumar, 1988), mass media exposure (Haraprasad, 1983), cosmopoliteness (desai, 1981), innovation proneness (Moulik, 1965), scientific orientation (Supe, 1969) and economic motivation (Moulik, 1965). Age and annual income were taken as such. Attitude towards Nattinpuram programme was measured using the scale developed for the study. Post-viewing behaviour, family viewing behaviour and viewing preference of Nattinpuram programme were measured using the procedure developed for the study. Data were collected from one hundred viewers and twenty seven non-viewers using an interview schedule. Data were analysed using correlation, multiple regression and path analyses. The salient findings of the study are the following: The reasons for not viewing the Nattinpuram programme were lack of time, lack of interest, programme irrelevant and boring to them; affect children’s studies, time not suitable and lack of awareness of the programme. Viewing behaviour of Nattinpuram programme viewers was at a low level. Most of them were occasional viewers. Age, educational status, occupation, annual income, social participation, cosmopoliteness, and economic motivation had no significant relationship with viewing behaviour. Mass media exposure, innovation proneness, scientific orientation and attitude towards Nattinpuram programme were significantly and positively related to viewing behaviour. The results of path analysis indicated variables such as mass media exposure, scientific orientation, and attitudes towards Nattinpuram programme as important in determining the viewing behaviour of the farmers. The respondents post-viewing behaviour was not appreciable. With regard their family viewing behaviour, majority of the family members were occasional viewers of Nattinpuram programme. With regard to programme preference (past), programmes like ‘safe handling of insecticides and pepper day celebration, agricultural development bank, and announcements inviting letters from farmers on their queries were most preferred by them. As regards the future programmes, preference for agricultural programme was the most. The most preferred mode of presentation was demonstration by experts with discussion. The most preffered time of Nattinpuram telecast was from 6.30 to 7.00 pm. The suggestions given by the respondents for improving Nattinpuram telecasts in future were: Inviting farmers in discussion, making the programmes more informative, avoiding the use of technical terms, alternating the programmes in a cyclic rotation and side by side discussion of the traditional methods.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Training strategy for the farmers of Kasaragod district
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1990) Thamban, C; KAU; Abdul Rahiman Kunju, O
    A research study was undertaken to evolve a training strategy for the farmers of Kasaragod district, Kerala. A Sample of 100 farmers were selected from ten panchayats of the district. Besides, 24 agricultural scientists and 20 extension personnel were also selected as respondents. A structured pre-tested interview schedule was used to elicit responses from farmers. A questionnaire was used in the case of agricultural scientists and extension personnel. The salient findings of the study are as follows; Majority (57 %) of the farmers were having medium knowledge level on improved cultivation practices of rice and coconut while 24 per cent had low and 19 per cent had high knowledge level. The farmers had appreciable knowledge about planting and after care while that regarding plant protection was poor in the case of rice. With regard to coconut, the farmers’ knowledge on planting and after care was of the high order while that of manures and manuring was dismal. The farmers expressed maximum training needs on plant protection of rice, while in the case of coconut it was on manures and manuring. Most of the farmers proffered peripatetic type of training, preferably during January and February at the nearest Krishibhavan. Demonstration was the most preferred training method. The agricultural scientists and extension personnel opined that the farmers should be trained on plant protection, manures and manuring and improved varieties with respect to rice and coconut cultivation. Actual cultivators, farmers from whom others seek guidance and farmers who have the spirit to assist others were the important criteria to be considered while selecting trainees for farmers’ training as opined by agricultural scientists and extension personnel. Regarding the selection of trainers, they perceived field experience, knowledge of local agricultural problems and communication ability as the important criteria to be considered. Pre and post-training evaluation was considered as the most important phase by them. Subject matter coverage, feed back from trainees and improvement in skill an knowledge of trainees were the important aspects of farmers’ training to be evaluated, they opined. Contact with trained farmers through field visits, by the trainers, identifying the constraints in putting in to practice the knowledge and skill in field situation by the trained farmers and arranging further training based on the trained farmers’ felt problems were the important methods of follow –up of farmers training, as suggested by the agricultural scientist and extension personnel. Based on the results of the study, a training strategy was prepared for the farmers of the kasaragod district
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Experimental study on the relative effectiveness of selected visual aids in teaching neo- literates
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1990) Santhosh Kumar, S; KAU; Abdul Rahiman Kunju, O
    In order to assess the relative effectiveness of selected visual aids in teaching neo-literates, an experimental study was carried out in Kottukkal panchayath of Trivandrum district, Kerala state. Three selected visual aids, viz., slides, flash cards and flannel graph, were tested for their effectiveness along with lecture method on a sample of 90 neo-literate fisher man. Gain in knowledge and its retention were the dependent variables. Age, family, size, average annual income, exposure to information sources, socio-political participation and cosmopoliteness were studied as the independent variables. Results revealed that slide was the most effective visual in terms of gain in knowledge where as flash cards contributed maximum to retention of knowledge when used in combination with lecture method. The analysis of correlation coefficients revealed that age and family size were significant but negatively correlated with both gain in knowledge and its retention, in the case of all the four treatments. Similarly, average annual income of the respondents was significantly and negatively corrected with the gain in knowledge in the case of TO, T2 and T3. For T1 the correlation was negative but not significant. In the case of retention of knowledge, the average annual income was negatively and significantly correlated for all the four treatments. The relationship of exposure to information sources of the respondents with gain in knowledge as well as with its retention was positive in the case of all the four treatments but significant only for T2 and T3. There was no significant relationship between the dependent variables and the socio-political participation of the neo-literates. The cosmopolitenes of respondent and significant and positive correlation with the gain in knowledge when the three selected visual aids were used along with lecture method. Significant, positive relationship was found between the cosmopoliteness and retention of knowledge when flash cards and flannel graphs were used along with the lecture method. The regression analysis revealed that out of the six independent variable, only two variables, viz., age and cosmopoliteness were significant in predicting the variation in gain in knowledge of neo-literates when flash cards and flannel graph were used along with lecture. But in the case of retention of knowledge, only one independent variable, viz. , age was significant in explaining the variation when flash cards as well as flannel graph were used along with the lecture method.