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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Open Access
Factors influencing the development of agriculture among the 'kanikkar' tribe of Kerala
(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Jaleel, M M; KAU; Bhaskaran, S
The study on the factors influencing the development of agiculture among the 'Kanikkar' tribe of Kerala was carried out with the following objectives: To study the characteristic profile of the tribal people. To identify the agricultural development indicators in tribal areas. To assess the extent of agricultural development in tribal areas. To find out the association between the agricultural development indicators and the selected socio-economic characteristics of 'Kanikkars'. To identify the factors influencing agricultural development in tribal areas. To identify the constraints affecting agricultural development in tribal areas. Kanikkars form the dominant tribe of South Kerala. A sample of 100 Kani-farmers was selected from the five Panchayats of Nedumangad Taluk of Thiruvananthapuram District using purposive, proportional and random allocation techniques. Personal interviews were conducted with the help of a well structured and pre-tested interview schedule. The data so collected were analysed with the help of suitable statistical techniques. The extent of agricultural development was assessed using the three agricultural development indicators selected for the purpose of the study/ which were the dependent variables namely knowledge about improved cultivation practices/ attitude towards farming/ and adoption of modern techniques of cultivation. The independent variables selected and utilised for the purpose of the study were age/education/ farming experience/ organisation participation/ risk orientation/ credit orientation/ cosmopoliteness/ extension participation/ extension contact/ mass media participation and land possession. The salient findings of the study are as follows: Nearly half of the respondents (49%) were young. Majority of them had high levels of education/ risk orientation/ credit orientation/ cosmopliteness and mass media participation/ while most of them had low lev^s of farming experience/ organisation participation, extension participat ion/ extension contact and land possession. Though majority of the Kanikkars hod o better knowledge on the scientific cultivation practices and a favourable attitude towards farming, the adoption level of modern techniques of cultivation was low. Of the 11 variables studied, land possession was found to have a non-significant correlation with the three dependent variables. Credit orientation was found to have a significant correlation only with attitude. Of the variables which were having a significant correlation with the three dependent variables, age and farming experience were negatively correlated. The crucial variables through which indirect effects were channelled were: education, risk orientation and extension participation with regard to knowledge about improved cultivation practices, education, cosmopoliteness and mass media participation with respect to attitude towards farming and age, farming experience and extension contact with reference to adoption of modern techniques of cultivation.
Open Access
Feasibility and utilization of agricultural technologies among scheduled caste farmers
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Rajendran, P; KAU; Menon, A G
A Study was conducted in Kerala State with the over-riding objective of analyzing the feasibility perception and utilization pattern of agricultural technologies by the scheduled caste farmers of the state and the constraints in and the consequences of utilization of technologies by them. The study was conducted covering all the five agro-climatic regions of the state, using probability proportionate to size random sampling procedure. Three hundred and thirty seven scheduled caste farmers from five panchayaths coming under five Blocks with the highest scheduled caste population representing each agro-climatic region were selected as the respondents. Five enterprises viz, coconut cultivation, tuber crops cultivation, banana cultivation, cattle rearing and goat rearing were selected and five specific practices for each of these enterprises were selected for assessing the utilization pattern of farmers. Feasibility of technology was analysed in terms of different attributes. Fifteen attributes viz., initial cost, availability of raw materials, availability of supplies and services, physical compatibility, efficiency profitability, availability of technology, simplicity suitability time utilization pattern, social acceptability, rapidity of returns, income generation potential, regularity of returns and viability, were selected for the study. The characteristics of the farmers such as education, family size, experience in farming, farm size, annual income, indebtedness, social participation, extension guidance, extension participation, cosmopoliteness, achievement orientation, development orientation, risk orientation, economic motivation, market orientation, self confidence, level of aspiration, rational orientation and innovativeness were selected for the study. These variables were quantified using standardized procedures. Statistical methods such as mena, percentage analysis, zero-order correlation, Kruskallwalli’s one-way analysis of variance, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance, spearman rank order correlation and stepwise regression analysis were employed for analyzing the data. The major findings of the study were: 1. Goat rearing was perceived as the most feasible enterprise while cattle rearing was perceived the least feasible enterprise by the respondents in general, 2. Agro-climatic differentiations caused variations in the perception of feasibility of the enterprises. 3. Simplicity, initial cost, physical compatibility, suitability, availability of raw materials, efficiency and availability of technology were found to be the crucial determinants of feasibility of agricultural technologies in general. 4. More than 50 percent of the respondents were distributed in the medium category with respect to the level of utilization of the selected enterprises, 5. Feasibility perception of the enterprises and its utilization by the respondents were found significantly related with respect to only coconut and cattle enterprises. 6. There was marked inter regional differences in most cases with respect to feasibility perception and utilization of practices for the five enterprises studied, 7. Lack of technical knowledge, lack of necessary supporting services and unavailability of raw materials were reported as the major constraints in the utilization of agricultural technologies in general. 8. Untimely and ineffective utilization of inputs and inclusion in the defaulters list of credit agencies were reported as the major consequences of utilization of agricultural technologies in general. 9. The characteristics of the respondents viz., extension guidance, risk orientation, self confidence, education, economic motivation, market orientation and cosmopoliteness were found to be significant in influencing and explaining the variation in the utilization of the enterprises by the scheduled caste farmers. Based on the findings of the study, a model for the effective implementation of agricultural development programmes among scheduled caste farmers in the state has been suggested.
Open Access
Role of krishi bhavans in agricultural development in Thiruvananthapuram district
(Department of Agricultural extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Suresh, Nelson; KAU; Sobhana, G
The study, ‘Role of Krishi Bhavans in Agricultural Development in Thiruvananthapuram District’ was conducted among Agricultural Extension Personnel and farmers in the three agricultural sub-divisions of the district viz. Neyyattinkara, Nedumangad and Attingal with the following specific objectives: To analyse the role of krshi Bhavans in Agricultural Development as perceived by farmers and Agricultural Extension Personnel. To study the awareness of farmers and Agricultural Extension Personnal about the concept and functioning of Krishi Bhavans. To study the attitude of farmers and Agricultural Extension Personnel towards Krishi Bhavans. To identify the constraints, if any, perceived by farmers and Agricultural Extension Personnel in the functioning of Krishi Bhavans. The study was conducted among 30 AOs. 30 AAS, 30 Karshika Vikasana Samithy Members and 60 other farmers, randomly selected from 30 krishi Bhavans of the district. The roles of Krishi Bhavans were analysed in terms of perceived importance and performance of the roles by the Agricultural Extension Personnel and farmers. Awareness was measured using the schedule developed for the study. Attitude towards Krishi Bhavans was measured using the attitude scale developed for the purpose. The characteristics of respondents were quantified using either adopted scales or schedules developed for the study. Constraints in the functioning of Krishi Bhavans were also identified as perceived by Agricultural Extension Personnel and farmers. Out of the thirty five identified roles, seven roles were perceived as important by all the four categories of respondents viz. AOs, AAS, Karshika Vikasana Samithy Members and other farmers. Of the seven roles, five were perceived by all of them as being adequately performed. The roles which were not adequately performed according to them were (i) Conducting method demonstrations, result demonstrations and Minikit trials in farmers’ fields. (ii) Arranging loans from Banks and Societies to farmers for agricultural purposes. Majority of the respondents ie. 56.67 per cent of AOs, 53.33 per cent of AAs, 56.67 per cent of Karshika Vikasana Samithy Members and 53.33 per cent of other farmers were having higher level of awareness about Krishi Bhavans. Job commitment of AOs was positively and significantly related to their awareness. None of the selected characteristics of AAs had significant relationship with their awareness. Education, social participation, contact with extension agency, innovativeness and scientific orientation of Karshika Vikasana Samithy Members and social participation, information source utilisation and innovativeness of other farmers were positively and significantly related with their awareness about Krishi Bhavans. Less than half of AOs and AAs (46.67 per cent each) and majority of Karshika Vikasana Samithy Members (60 per cent) and other farmers (56.67 per cent) were found to have high degree of attitude towards Krishi Bhavans. Job satisfaction and job commitment of AOs and job satisfaction of AAs were found to have positive and significant relationship with their attitude towards Krishi Bhavans. Contact with extension agency, Scientific orientation and awareness about Krishi Bhavans of Karshika Vikasana Samithy Members and contact with extension agency of other farmers were found to have positive and significant relationship with their attitude towards Krishi Bhavans. Lack of clerical support in Krishi Bhavan was the most important constraint perceived by AOs while ‘Lack of facilities in Krishi Bhavans was perceived as the most important constraint by AAs. The five serious constraints identified by Karshika Vikasana Samithy Members and other farmers were high labour cost, conversion of paddy fields into coconut and banana gardens making tiller ploughing difficult lack of irrigation water in time, inadequate and untimely supply of inputs and high cost of cultivation.
Open Access
Group management in rice production an action research
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Mohammed Hussain, M; KAU; Menon, A G G
The study “Group management in rice production – an action research” was conducted in Punchakari of Kalliyoor Panchayat, Trivandrum. The study was aimed at to analyse reasons for the success or failure of earlier group approaches and also to analyse the constraints in increasing rice production. It was planned to develop and implement an action programme to overcome the identified constraints through group management. 34 farmers in an area of 10 acres were selected for the study. The research design followed in this action research study was that of ‘before and after experiment’ type, in which the experiment had the respondent’s participation in planning, implementing and evaluation and with an action research component of utilizing the results of the study for further refinement of the group management approach through continuous monitoring and evaluation of the entire programme. A suitable technology package was identified to overcome the selected constraints and introduced in the study area. The impact of the action programme on the selected socio psychological and economic variables was closely monitored and evaluated. The most important reasons for the failure of earlier group approaches were : ‘the political system does not permit’, /group approach ‘possible only when there is continuous leadership’, ‘group approach dies out when external leadership is withdrawn’, ‘no knowledge about group-mamagement’, ‘farmers are not co-operative’, ‘heterogenous group members are more in villages’, ‘no proper machinery to popularize group management’, less scope for unanimous decision’, ‘no proper extension guidance’, ‘no proper guidance from Government side’, ‘inadequate number of voluntary organisations’, ‘public involvement is less’. The nature of content reflected in the results on the constraints in increasing rice production were : ‘non availability of inputs’, ‘high cost of inputs’, ‘incidence of pests and diseases’, labour related problems’, ‘marketing’, ‘drainage’, and ‘lack of technical advice’. There was a significant change on the favourable side in the use of information sources by the respondents exposed to group management approach. The changes brought in the adoption of package of practices through group management approach were significant. Group management approach had brought in favourable changes in the character of social participation of respondents. Group management approach had played a vital role in enhancing the knowledge level about high yielding varieties of rice cultivations. There occurred a gradual but a favourable improvement in the cosmopoliteness of the respondents over group management approach period. There was a significant favourable change in the extension orientation of respondents through group-management. The respondents in the study area had changed significantly with regard to their management orientation due to group management efforts. Group management approach had influenced the attitude of respondents favourably towards it. The group cohesiveness was improved among the members of farmers as a result of group activities. There was a positive significant relationship developed between the yield obtained by the respondents and group management efforts. The net income from rice cultivation was increased considerably due to continuous exposure to group management approaches. There was marked significant reduction in the cost of cultivation of rice noticed for all the operations selected for/the study except harvesting over the four crop seasons as a result of group management. However a slight increase in the cost of cultivation of different operations noticed other than transplanting and manures and manuring during the follow up crop season when the Researcher’s supervision was withdrawn. The extension method, field visit was preferred much for all the package of practices of high yielding varieties of rice cultivated in the study area. Farmer’s training, group discussion and individual contact were found to be preferred next best in their sequence during the post exposure periods of group management approaches.
Open Access
Impact of rice minikit trials on the adoption behaviour of farmers
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Ramachandran, C; KAU; Bhaskaran, C
With a view to study the impact of Rice Minikit Trials on adoption behavior of farmers the present investigation was undertaken under the title “Impact of Rice Minikt Trials on the Adoption Behaviour of Farmers”. Impact was measured in terms of the adoption of the selected recommended practices by the participant farmers and the non-participant farmers. The farmer’s perception about the innovation-characteristics of Minikit Variables of Rice, the procedures followed in conducting Rice Minikit Trials, and the constraints faced by the participant farmers and the extension personnel were also analysed. The study was conducted in Kollam district. The sample consisted of 60 each of randomly selected participant farmers and non-participant farmers and 30 Agricultural Officers. Data were collected using interview schedule and suitable statistical techniques were employed in the analysis of data. The study revealed that the participant farmer’s adoption of the recommended practices, though partial in some aspects, was significantly affected by the Rice Minikit Trials. The selected independent variables together contributed significantly in the variation adoption behavior of both the participants as well as the non-participant farmers. The analysis of the perception of the farmers about the innovation- characteristics revealed, profitability as the most striking innovation characteristic of the Minikit varieties of Rice. The evaluation of the procedures of conducting Rice minikit Trials showed that most of the procedural requirements were not being fulfilled satisfactorily. The results of the constraint analysis pointed out that timely supply of kids, literature on package of practices recommendations of the variety along with the kit and timely guidance and supervision were given the least attention. The results point out to the need for proper planning and improvement in every step in the conduct of the Trials to reach its cherished goals.

Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

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