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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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ThesisItem Open Access Participatory action research for renumerative rice production(Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2004) Parvathy, S; KAU; Ahamed, PAs with the Complex, Diverse and Risk- prone (CDR) rice systems of many Asian countries, the Kerala state of peninsular India suffers from the fast depleting paddies and the ' high cost- low remuneration syndrome'. Crucial rice technologies have been blamed by stakeholders for the insensitivity to micro farming situations A multidisciplinary stakeholder Participatory Action Research (PAR) of emancipatory type and collaborative mode was done for three years (2001-2004) on identification and prioritization of constraints to profitable rice production to explore the available cost-reducing and productivity increasing technological options. The project focussed on screening of technological modules through farmer participatory field assessment and arrived at locally adaptable and remunerative technology packages. The project also developed and standardised an extrapolatable stakeholder participatory assessment model and protocol. The programme had a blend of extension approaches, research designs and tools like "ex-post facto", benchmark appraisal through Participatory Learning and Action (PLA), exploratory, diagnostic, evaluative, field experiments and analytical studies. The PAR was done in two rice ecosystems (irrigated and rainfe:l) of the midland, laterite belt of Kerala state, India. Fourteen technology modules were fitted into the PAR, under .. , each of the three treatments, viz., farmers' practice, recommended packages of the formal research system and location specific I technology components" jointly decided by the research team extensionists and farmers. Each technology component was subjected to five types of analysis viz., agronomic, statistical, economic, farmers perceptions and reactions, post-trial follow up analysis of adoption in the succeeding cropping seasons. The participatory interventions significantly influenced the level of technical knowledge and extent of adoption of adaptable technology modules, typifying the cognitive impact of an emancipating action research. The short duration red rice varieties "Kanchana" (Ptb 50) and "Kairali" (Ptb 49) proved to be the best first crop and second crop varieties respectively, to replace the ruling cultivars. The technology modules recommended by the formal research system viz., seed treatment with fungicides for the first crop season and Pseudomonas fluorescence for the second crop season were adaptable technologies. The PAR came out with an efficient planting density and crop geometry package (line transplanting; 15 x 10 cm; 67 . , hills/m'; 2-3 seedlings/hill) to replace the conventional planting system. The existing formal recommendations including IPM and INM practices could enhance and combat weeds, pest and diseases thereby enhancing crop yield. Harvesting with self- propelled reaper and threshing with mechanised thresher were cost effective, drudgery alleviating and time saving. The net result of the action research was a set of adaptable technological package for remunerative rice production in the CDR rice production systems. Cognitive and behavioural impact on the participants; and the standard methodology and protocol for participatory technology validation for rice in particular, and for any farm enterprise in general, with extrapolative effect.ThesisItem Open Access Effectiveness of instructor controlled interactive video (ICIV) in dissemination if farm technology(Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2000) Radhakrishnan, D; KAU; Ranjan Karippai, SThe study was aimed at bringing out the effectiveness of Instructor Controlled Interactive Video (ICIV) in popularising agricultural technologies among the farming community. The impact of the different treatments of ICIV with different video formats was also experimented. The study was conducted among 150 vegetable growers from Nadathara grama panchayath of Thrissur district. The respondents were farm women cultivating vegetables. IPM in vegetables was chosen as the message to be disseminated. The dependent variables of the study were knowledge gain and symbolic adoption of IPM practices in vegetables. The set of 11 independent variables chosen covered the psychological and situational factors of the respondents. The distribution of. respondents based on knowledge gain and symbolic adoption showed that majority of respondents were in high category after participating in ICIV. Out of 11 independent variables studied six variables were correlated significantly with knowledge gain. Five variables showed non significant relationship. Multiple regression analysis showed that 62 per cent variation in knowledge gain was contributed by the independent variables. Correlation analysis of independent variables with symbolic adoption showed that five independent variables had a positively significant relationship with symbolic adoption. One variable was negatively significant with symbolic adoption. Remaining five varied showed non significant relationship. Multiple regression analysis concluded that 59.2 per cent variation in symbolic adoption was brought about by related independent variables as a whole. The significant 'F' value indicated that all the treatments were effective in terms of knowledge gain and symbolic adoption. Students 't' test was carried out to compare the treatments. ICIV with 'Feature' mode of video presentation and ICIV with 'Skill demonstration' mode of video presentation were the most effective modes in maximising knowledge gain and symbolic adoption.ThesisItem Open Access Techno- socio- economic assessment of farmers practices in the cultivation of cowpea in Thiruvanathapuram district(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2000) Manjjusha, A R; KAU; Shilaja, SThe study aimed at assessing the socio-economic and technical aspects of the farmers' prac- tices in the cultivation of cowpea as perceived by the researchers, extension personnel and the farmers. The study was conducted in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala State. On the basis of dis- cussion with experts, researchers, extension personnel and people's representatives in the district, Kalliyoor panchayat was selected as the locale of the study which is the prominent vegetable cultivat- ing area in the district. Two sets of respondents were selected for the study. Forty practising farmers cultivating cow pea was included as the respondents of the first category. Fifty extension officials and agricultural scientists working with sufficient experience in extension or research related to the culti- vation of cowpea was selected as the second category of respondents. The dependent variables of the study were knowledge of farmers about the recommended practices and extent of adoption of farmers' practices. These dependent variables were quantified us- ing measurement devices developed for the study. Fifteen independent variables were selected for the study which included age, education, main occupation, farming experience, annual income, area under cowpea, exposure to information sources, irrigation index, social participation, extension orientation, economic motivation, innovativeness, cosmopoliteness, credit orientation, risk orientation, participation in PTD and perception about PTD. All these independent variables were quantified with the help of available measurement procedures. For assessing scientifically the socio-economic and technical aspects of the farmers' practices identi- fied, matrix ranking was adopted. The data were collected using both non-participant observation technique and a pre-tested structured interview schedule prepared for the purpose. Different statistical tools like mean, percentage analysis, correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis and step- ) wise regression analysis were used to analyse the data. I'" The study revealed 57 farmers' practices in the cultivation of cowpea. The practices 'applica- tion of neemcake, groundnut cake and bonemeal twenty days after sowing', 'spraying neemoil ernul- sion against American Serpentine Leaf Miner' and 'ploughing the land after adding lime' registered the highest techno-socio-economic indices. The practices 'drying of pods for four to six days', 'application of neem cake, groundnut cake and bonemeal twenty days after sowing' and 'basal application of cattle -;- manure or poultry manure' were considered by the farmers as most efficient. But researchers and extension personnel considered the practices 'basal application of cattle manure or poultry manure', 'drying of pods for four to six days' and 'application of poultry manure ten days after sowing' as most efficient. About 48 per cent of farmers belonged to the low knowledge category and 40 per cent possessed high knowledge about the selected recommended practices. 'Sowing after first week of June is the most suitable time', 'ploughing the land thoroughly two to three times to remove weeds and stubbles' and 'hoeing at the time of application of second dose of nitrogen' were the most known practices to cent per- cent of the farmers selected for the study purpose. About 53 per cent of the farmers belonged to the low adoption category and 38 per cent of the farmers were in the high category with respect to adoption of efficient farmers' practices. 'Drying of pods for four to six days' was the practice adopted by majority of the farmers in this area. Twelve practices out of eighteen were adopted by more than 50 per cent of the farmers. With regard to relationship of knowledge with selected independent variables, variables viz., education, annual income, exposure to information sources, so- cial participation, extension orientation, cosmopoliteness and risk orientation were found to have sig- nificant and positve relationship with knowledge of recommended practices. Extent of adopion of efficient farmers' practices was related positively and significantly with five independent variables viz., education, exposure to information sources, social participation, extension orientation and knowl- edge about recommended practices. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that about 71 per cent of the variation in knowledge and 61.77 per cent of the variation in extent of adoption were explained by the selected independent variables. Step-wise regression analysis revealed that of the 71 per cent of the variation in knowledge, 47 per cent was contributed by exposure to information sources alone, about 6.0 per cent by the variable age and remaining by all the other independent variables. Incidence of pests and diseases, labout scarcity and uneven production were the major production constraints experienced by majority of the respondents and high labour charges, high cost of material inputs and price fluctuation of the produce were the major economic constraints.ThesisItem Open Access Rationalisation of indigenous technical knowledge on pest management in the farm production systems of Palakkad District(Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2003) Swapna, T R; KAU; Ahamed, PThe study on "Rationalisation of Indigenous Technical Knowledge on pest m.anagement in the farm production systems of Palakkad district" was conducted with the over-riding objective of compiling. and cataloguing the Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) including contemporary farmers' innovations in pest management in the major production systems, and analysing the evaluative perception and rationality of ITK items. The respondents of the study comprised of 150 farmers, 84 extensionists (including agricultural and veterinary departments) and 60 scientists, from agricultural and veterinary faculties. The study was conducted as a phased programme. The analysis of data elicited through Key Informant Workshops (KIW's) and Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) sessions were subjected to various statistical analyses. The results of the study confirmed that farmers have rich knowledge on pest management developed by their ancestors and peers. The results established that the farmers did not perceive all the traditional practices as good or sound. They defended their opinions based on multi- faceted technology evaluation attributes and field realities. The ITK's screened through KIW's when subjected to the researchers and extensionists showed high difference of opinion, though some sort of similarity was also observed, when the ITK attributes were considered separately. On combined effect of perceived effect and scientific rationality of ITK items, similarity of opinion was observed in high potential and low potential ITK's as perceived by researchers and extensionists. The ITK's screened through Key Informant Workshops, when subjected to the researchers and extensionists, received differential perceptions in many cases and agreement on others. Besides these, there existed high correlation and significant relationship between the perceived effect and scientific rationality of each ITK as perceived by researchers and extensionists. Hence it could be concluded that majority of the ITK items with high perceived effect were perceived to have high scientific rationality also, though a few showed no relation at all. This indicated that perceived effect of an ITK is highly influenced by its scientific rationality and vice versa. While analysing the combined response of researchers and extensionists on the perceived effect and scientific rationality of ITK items, separately, majority of the items seemed to be non significant. This shows that both researchers and extensionists differed greatly in the perception of an ITK on its perceived utility. It could be further narrowed down that the attitude and viewpoints of researchers were different from the extensionists. The critical examination of the data analysed proved that there existed some sort of agreement in response pattern given by the farmers, researchers and extensionists. There were some ITK's which showed similarity in the response of high ranking and low ranking ones as given by all the three-respondents. At the same time a few ITK's clearly discriminated the perception of researchers and extensionists. This means that there were a few ITK's that discriminated the researchers and extensionists widely and a few others which exhibited agreement. Results of the study indicated the need for indepth assessment and validation of ITK's at laboratory and field levels through multidisciplinary approach, other than mere documentation and romanticization of all traditional knowledge without reasoning. While doing so, all the dimensions related to each specific technology must be worked out.ThesisItem Open Access Micro credit and technology utilisation in vegetable production by self help groups in Thiruvananthapuram district(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2003) Priya Devi, S; KAU; Bhaskaran, CKerala is depending upon other states for meeting its vegetable requirements though the soil types and climate are suitable for large scale and commercial cultivation. To meet the resource crunch among farmers a supplementing rural credit system to the existing ones is needed. This research study was an enquiry into the reported increase in area of vegetable cultivation and financial viability due to micro credit provision among beneficiaries of Self Help Groups of Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam (YFPCK), Thiruvananthapuram project area. The respondents were 30 experts and 120 beneficiaries from twelve SHGs of five Panchayats of Thiruvananthapuram district. The data were collected using pre-tested and structured interview schedule and questionnaire prepared for the purpose. Micro credit utilisation and technology adoption levels in vegetable production by Self Help Groups were analysed. Also micro credit need and gap were ascertained and constraints and suggestions listed down. Based on group dynamics indicators it was inferred that the SHGs were functioning at medium level. Further inadequacies and future prospects are needed to be managed effectively. The SHGs had> 70 per cent attendance level in meetings, one meeting was arranged per month and had homogenous membership. The loan amount availed was between Rs.40,000 to Rs.80,000 with uniform interest rate. Group savings of Rs.SOO to Rs.ISOO was reported. Usually < 8 books of account are kept which are maintained by a group member. Members of group had trainings conducted based on their felt needs facilitated by field officers. XS Majority of the beneficiaries were in the 'high' category in respect or all vital profile characteristics like experience, innovativeness, social participation. training and increase in income after joining group activity. This is Cl positive effect of group formation. Also regarding technology adoption rate group characteristics were significantly related and individual characters were not significant. The credit need and credit gap was Rs.238 per cent of land. Regarding market behaviour, field centres were preferred to market the produce, bicycle or autorickshaws were mostly used for transport of produce. It was seen that 67 per cent of respondents got their money as ready cash at the time of sales and 80 per cent were satisfied with marketing support provided. Export potential must be more facilitated. Total cost of cultivation for one cent of panthal crop was reported as RS.S38 per cent. The credit utilisation was complete. All the respondents had repaid completely the loan amount and hence repayment was complete. Constraints faced in rmcro credit servicmg were absence of subsidy, indebtedness of beneficiaries and formal book keeping difficulties. The short term nature, allotment season and meeting time were reported as less relevant constraints. Constraints faced in timely repayment of micro credit were high labour cost, market glut leading to low cost of produce and wilful defaulters. Political influence was not rated as major constraint. Interest rates were low and overdues were not expected to be written off by beneficiaries. Perception of experts was high about regular field visits by experts, experience sharing and compulsion by group pressure in repayment and utilisation of loan amount. Also monitoring and recording of adopted technologies which were not perceived as risky was enabled by micro credit. Perception of beneficiaries about micro credit was high with respect to benefit of more renewal chances, easy repayment installments, absence of collateral security, reduction in cost of borrowing and ensuring participatory approach. Also reduction in time spent, making farming profitable, experts visiting fields, convenient interest levels and satisfactory amount supplied was enabled by micro credit. Suggestions of beneficiaries and experts for improving micro credit supply relates to role of banks, government support and sustained group action. In the case of defaulters, bank intervention must be more easily and strict to avoid possible revenue recovery and smooth group functioning. Regarding improvement in repayment and sustained group action, more incentives must be provided. Government support in the form of subsidy, insurance and reduction in lease amount are needed.ThesisItem Open Access Forecasting technical manpower needs in agriculture in Kerala(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2004) Suja, S L; KAU; Sherief, A KThe study entitled "Forecasting technical manpower needs in agriculture in Kerala" was undertaken to forecast the technical manpower demand and supply in agriculture for a decade in Kerala. It was also aimed to study the characteristics of the existing employment pattern of technical manpower. Its aim also included to identify the constraints faced by the technical manpower in getting gainful employment in agriculture. The study was conducted in identified organizations in Kerala state. A sample of 150 agriculture graduates who were working in different sectors of agricultural development in the state were selected for studying the characteristics of existing employment pattern in the state. The study developed after having discussion with the officials and subject matter specialists. Well structured and pre-tested interview schedule was used for data collection. For forecasting the technical manpower demand in the next decade, data regarding the employment pattern during the last five years and at present were collected from the government sector, industrial and corporate sector, research and academic sector, banking sector, non- governmental organizations and others. Then the trend of variation in the employment pattern was analysed. Based on this trend future technical manpower requirement in different sectors was worked out by regression analysis, For technical manpower supply forecasting agricultural students enrolled in Kerala Agricultural University from 1995 - 2002 were collected. In this study based on the data it \\';\'S assumed that 25 per cent of the students were coming from outside Kerala. The study revealed that most of the respondents were working in identified organizations whose functional area IS' research and development. Most of the respondents were postgraduates and they receive monthly salary for the service or work rendered by them in the identified organizations. The study revealed that in the government sector there will be a decrease in the demand for the technical manpower in the next decade even though number of vacancies will rise due to retirement of the employees. The factors affecting future technical manpower demand in the identified organizations were emerging technological development, impact of GATT and WTO agreement and government policies related to agriculture, industry and economy, competition between different enterprises in the agricultural field, opening new areas of employment, higher salary expectation of employees and improved mechanisms for rural credit. As per the study the estimated annual outturn of agricultural graduates from 2004 to 2010 will be 177. As per the study the technical manpower demand - supply gap analysis revealed that the present level of potential unemployment in the state is about 53.33 per ce~t. The cumulative potential unemployment is 313. Among the constraints listed out, narrow focus on unemployment mismatching of education with jobs, delay in updating the curriculum and lack of adequate practical exposure in starting and running enterprises were considered to be the major constraints felt by the agricultural graduates in getting gainful employment in agriculture.ThesisItem Open Access Rationalisation of idigenous technical knowledge on production management in the farm production systems of Palakkad district(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 2003) Rajesh, P; KAU; Kaleel, F M HIndigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) was recognized as a possible key to low external input sustainable agriculture that contributes both to sustainable agricultural production for the farmers, as well as a source of knowledge that can add on to the existing science based knowledge of the researchers. Identifying, documenting and incorporating indigenous knowledge systems into agricultural extension organizations were essential to achieve sustainable agricultural development. Keeping in VIew the objectives of the study and the perusal of available literature shows that most of the attributes included in the study were expost facto in nature and in expost facto studies the chance for manipulation by the researcher is very less. The study was conducted in Palakkad district. A multi stage sampling procedure was followed for selection of samples for the study. Out of the 13 developmental blocks five were selected based on the criteria of highest agricultural predominance and presence of at least three production systems out of five envisaged in the study namely rice based, homestead based mixed farming system, plantation including spices, seasonal crops and annual crops. One of the blocks was selected to represent one agro eco zone. Four panchayats were selected within each block based on the same criteria of highest agricultural predominance and presence of at least three production systems out of five. Thus 20 panchayats were included for the study. The objectives of the study necessitated the involvement of three types of respondents viz.,farmers, extension personnel and scientists. These three groups were referred as Farmers Sub System (FSS), Extension Sub System (ESS) and Research Sub System (RSS) respectively. There were 34 ITK practices in coconut, which were agreed as good practices by FSS and ESS and supported by RSS with rationalization. These practices were documented. In ginger six ITK practices were documented after evaluation by FSS and ESS and rationalization by scientists. In pepper five ITK practices were documented after evaluation by farmers and extension personnel and rationalization by scientists. Similar work can be done in other districts of Kerala so that a comprehensive ITK package can be developed. It was a must because almost all ITKs were location specific. Those ITKs, which were rated as good by the FSS, ESS and RSS, can be blended with modern technology and can be fed back to the farmers. The ITKs, which were not rationalized by the scientists but considered as good by the farmers, can be selected for further study. The correct dosage and other details like time of application and method of application can be developed for each ITK so that it will become more specific. Those ITKs, which were fool proof, can be included in the package of practices for the corresponding production systems.ThesisItem Open Access Study of rubber producer`s society of Thrissur district- sap analysis(Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2004) Jayanta, Roy; KAU; Geethakutty, P SRubber in Kerala is no longer a crop grown only in large plantations; it is , now gaining importance as a homestead crop also. The Rubber Board have setup the field level rubber growers' co-operative institution - the Rubber Producers' Society " (RPS) for providing infrastructural and technological support services needed by the small farmers. The present study entitled "A Study of Rubber Producer's Society of Thrissur District - SAP analysis" was aimed to analyse the structural and functional dimensions of RPS using Situation-Actor-Process (SAP) analysis, to analyse the shift in role perceptions and role performance of RPS in the present scenario, to analyse the managerial roles as employed by the RPS for the production and marketing of quality rubber production and to analyse the constraints in the functioning of RPS. Data were collected from a sample of 60 office bearers and 150 grower members identified at random from ten well functioning and ten poor functioning RPS of Thrissur District. The data on analysis revealed that majority of the RPS in Thrissur district were observed to be in the category of average performance. The experience of the RPS, membership strength, rate of growth in membership, extent of gender balance among the participants, maintenance of accounts, service area of the RPS, services of marketing, information and processing provided to the members, innovative programmes taken up, formation of SHG and community biogas plant were observed to be important contributing factors in the effectiveness of RPS. All the RPS were claiming good linkage with Rubber Board through field officials. It was observed that , , RPS officials were giving least importance to the major expected roles of creating awareness on grade based marketing, value addition, initiating Self Help Groups (SHGs) for women enabling community processing activities and industries. Negative correlation is found between the role expectation by the grower members about RPS and role performance by the RPS. Majority of the RPS officials keep good attitude towards the RPS. But a very low percentage of the grower members keep favourable attitude as majority of them were with neutral attitude only towards RPS. The major problems experienced by the office bearers in the implementation of RPS were - lack of co-operation on the part of grower members, lack of interest on the part of grower members, lack of working. capital, non adoption of new technologies etc while problems experienced by the RPS grower members were lack of training and technical knowledge, lack of physical facilities, lack of remunerative .prices, non co-operation among members, poor leadership of the RPS office bearers, lack of timely assistance and input supply, poor functioning and services of RPS, poor credit faci lities etc. The lapse on the part of the RPS office bearers and growers as 'Actors' witli role clarity of the situation are well pronounced here. The office bearers should be made aware of the 'goals' and vision of the RPS and the resultant role expectations and mission of the various stakeholders of the situation. Capacity building among the office bearers for effective leadership and management is of crucial importance. Efforts for initialization of the RPS should be there through focus on status, industries and participatory leadership.ThesisItem Open Access Rice seed production and distribution strategies in Palakkad district(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 2002) Jinesh Jills, George; KAU; Ahamed, PThe present study on Palakkad rice seed system was basically aimed at understanding farmer-preferred varieties and attributes, the constraints to rice seed production and distribution at sub system level, public sector rice seed production status of the district for five consecutive years (1996-'97 to 2000-'01) and streamline a seed system strategy for Palakkad district. PRAIPLA investigations were conducted in ten ADBs (except Mannarkad and Agali) with 330 farmers (FSS), 41 AOs/AAs (ESS), 20 farm officials from the SSFs (SISS) and the rice researchers (RSS) of central zone as the respondents of the study. The analyses of data elicited through matrix ranking exercises was done using special 'preferential indices' developed namely MRI, VRI, ARI, CRI, MSAI. The results of the study confirmed the existence of a large number of rice varieties/cultivars (54 nos) raised in diverse agro climatic and micro-farming situations. Three unique systems apart from the traditional virippu and mundakan, namely Koottumundakan, Karingora and Poonthalpadams were identified. The major crop establishment system for virippu and mundakan were dry sowing and transplantation respectively. There was a huge gap in the demand and supply of quality rice seed facilitated by the SSFs, RARS, Pattambi, NSC unit, Alathur and RSGP. Together they accounted only for around five per cent of the rice seed requirement of the district. According to the latest estimates (2000-2001), 94.70 per cent of the rice seeds were farmer-produced, 1.51 per cent was contributed by SSFs, 0.66 per cent by RARS, Pattambi, 1.98 per cent by the NSC unit, Alathur and 1.15 per cent by RSGP. The 34 farmer-preferred rice varietal attributes were classified into eight categories namely, traits related to grain quality, multiple adaptability, pest/disease tolerance, straw quality, traits related to harvest and post harvest operations and traits related to inputs. The constraints to rice seed production and distribution at the various stakeholder systems (FSS, ESS, SISS and RSS) were classified into eight categories namely input constraints, socio-economic constraints, infra structural constraints, technological constraints extension and policy constraints, biological constraints, information constraints and psychological constraints. The constraints to the evolution and spread of rice varieties perceived by the RSS of the district were categorized into research, production and extension and policy constraints. Comparison of the FSS and the ESS of Palakkad district on the ranking of rice varieties, varietal traits and prioritization of farmers' constraints to rice seed production and distribution revealed that there was significant disagreement between the two sub systems, on the ranking of both virippu and mundakan varieties, while their perception on preferred varietal traits and farmers' constraints were more or less similar. Results of the study indicate the need for decentralized participatory rice varietal selection coupled with community level seed production, to tackle the inadequacies and problems of Palakkad rice seed system. Hence, a decentralized participatory nee varietal selection and seed production model was prepared for Palakkad district.
