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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 Evaluative perception of appropriateness of the recommended fertiliser management practices(Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1989) Rasheed Sulaiman, V; KAU; Muraleedhara Prasad, RA study was undertaken to investigate into the extent of knowledge, extent of adoption and evaluative perception of appropriateness of the recommended fertilizer management practices among rice farmers (n=200) and Agricultural Demonstrators (n=54) in Palghat and Cannanore Districts of Kerala State. The study revealed that farmers of Palghat and Cannanore differed significantly with respect to their knowledge and adoption of fertiliser management practices with farmers of Palaghat having higher level of knowledge and adoptionThesisItem Open Access Influence of leaders in the development of rural areas(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1981) Shilaja, S; KAU; Tampi, A MThesisItem Open Access Study on adoption of soil conservation measures by farmers in scheme areas of Trivandrum District(Department of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1978) Balakrishna Pillai, G; KAU; Nair, G TThe magnitude of the problem of soil erosion is so high in Kerala mainly due to the undulating topography and high intensity of rainfall. More than 10 lakhs hectares of undulating land have to be protected from the hazards of erosion by effective soil conservation measures . The results of studies conducted on the soil loss by the soil conservation station. Konni has shown that the soil loss where slope was 30 per cent was 241.56 tonnes per acre per year. Attempts are made to control the serious loss of top soil by the Department of Agriculture (Soil Coservation Unit) by implementing integrated soil conservation schemes. But the progress of coverage was poor. Even in scheme areas, many farmers are non -adopters of the required soil conservation works. Many farmers have not taken up the required Agronomy and Agrostology works eventhough theycompleted the contour bunding works. A detailed study was essential to understand all those aspects of adoption . This study was an effort in that direction.ThesisItem Open Access Study on the role of leadership in agricultural development in rural areas in Kerala(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture Vellayani, Trivandrum, 1979) Muthiah Manoharan, P; KAU; Thiagarajan Nair, GThis study on the role of leadership in agricultural development was designed to measure the role perception and 1 f role performance of different categories of leaders, as well as the factors associated with the role performance of leaders. This study was conducted in Arayoor I.P.D. Unit in Trivandrum District. This study covered five categories of leaders viz., Agricultural, Political, Co-operative, Ela committee and Panchayat leaders. The important findings were the following: 1. There was no significant difference among all categories of leaders regarding their age, educational level, communication skill, attitude towards agriculture and knowledge of the programme and improved agricultural practices. . 2. Agricultural and Ela committee leaders had higher farm size, higher income and had adopted more practices when compared to other categories of leaders. . 3* Agricultural, Panchayat and Co-operative leaders had high value orientation, high achievement motivation and had more favourable attitude towards high yielding varieties than other categories of leaders. 4. Co-operative leaders had more favourable attitude than other categories of leaders towards fertilizers* Panchayat, Agricultural and Political leaders had more favourable attitude than other categories of leaders towards plant protection. 5. Ela committee leaders had more mass media exposure than other categories of leaders. Ela committee, Agricultural and Panchayat leaders had more frequent contact with extension agency than other categories of leaders. ■ 6. The results revealed that Panchayat and Agricultural leaders had more perception of agricultural development roles than other categories of leaders. Agricultural leaders performed more roles in agricultural development than other categories of leaders. 7. When the pooled ranks were worked out the role "Accept improved agricultural practices before others" emerged as the most important role perceived as well as performed by the leaders. 8. Mass media exposure was significantly correlated with the role performance except in Political leaders. Caste also had influence in role performance. 9. Six variables viz., farm size, income, knowledge, mass media exposure, contact with extension agency and adoption behaviour were correlated, with role performance . significantly when the pooled data were considered. 10. Inter-correlation analysis lead to the conclusion that farm size had significant correlation with income, knowledge, mass media exposure, contact with extension agency and adoption behaviour. Income was significantly correlated with knowledge, mass media exposure, contact with extension agency and adoption behaviour. Knowledge was significantly correlated with contact with extension agency and adoption behaviour. There was also a significant correlation between mass media exposure and contact with extension agency. 11, It was also observed that the proportion of role performance explained by the variables viz., farm size, income, knowledge, mass media exposure, contact with extension agency and adoption behaviour was 50 percent.ThesisItem Open Access Entrepreneurial behaviour of rural women in Thiruvananthapuram district(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1996) Jayalekshmi, G; KAU; Shilaja, SThe present study under the title ''Entrepreneurial behaviour of rural women in Thiruvananthapuram district was undertaken to assess the entrepreneurial behaviour of rural women to study the personal and sociopsychological factors influencing entrepreneurial behaviour and the constraints experienced by the rural women in starting an enterprise. Rural women trained in mushroom cultivation and fruit and vegetable preservation were selected from College of Agriculture, Vellayani and Mitraniketan Vellanad. Thirty rural women each were selected from each centre for each enterprise. Thus 120 trained rural women were selected. Another 60 untrained rural women were also selected as control. Thus the total sample comprised of 180 with five groups of respondents. Data was collected using interview schedule and suitable statistical techniques were employed in the analysis of data. An entrepreneurial development index was developed and found that the factors such as economic motivation, risktaking ability, decision making ability, achievement motivation, management orientation, competition orientation and self confidence were the major dimensions of entrepreneurial behaviour. With regard to the profile of rural women, the rural women selected, both trained and untrained belonged to young age group and majority of them belonged to backward caste. Educational status and family educational status of the selected respondents were high school and above. More than 50 per cent of them have land holding ranging from 15-20 cents and annual income between Rs.15000-20000. More than 55 per cent of the rural women have taken up self employment. Above 50 per cent of the rural women have high information seeking behaviour, mass media contact, social participation, level of aspiration and attitude towards self employment. Majority of the rural women have low cosmopoliteness. Cent per cent of the trained rural women have high knowledge of the technology. Except rural women in group II & V all others have high entrepreneurial behaviour. Comparison of the five groups revealed that they were on par with respect to age, landholding, annual income and social participation. Majority of the trained rural women belonged to backward caste and untrained belonged to scheduled caste. The trained rural women differed significantly with the untrained in their educational status, family educational status, occupation, information seeking behavior and perceived knowledge of the technology. There was significant difference among the groups with respect to mass media contact, level of aspiration, cosmopoliteness and entrepreneurial behavior. Relationship of the personal and socio-psychological factors with the entrepreneurial behavior showed that in the case of group I, variables namely educational status of the family, information seeking behavior, mass media contact, level of aspiration, attitude towards self employment and perceived knowledge of the technology were positively and significantly correlated. In the case of group II, caste educational status of the respondents and family, information seeking behavior, mass media contact, social participation, level of aspiration, cosmopoliteness, attitude towards self employment and perceived knowledge of the technology were positively and significantly correlated with the entrepreneurial behavior. Only educational status of the family was found to have a positive and significant relationship with the entrepreneurial behavior of group III. In the case of group IV, caste, educational status of the respondent and family, annual income, information seeking behavior, mass media contact, cosmopoliteness, level of aspiration, attitude towards self employment and perceived knowledge of the technology were positively and significantly correlated with the entrepreneurial behaviour. In the case of group V a positive and significant relationship exists between entrepreneurial behavior and educational status of the respondent and family, annual income, information seeking behavior, mass media contact, social participation, cosmopoliteness, attitude towards self employment and perceived knowledge of the technology. With regard to the constraints experienced by the rural women, ‘Marketing problem and lack of financial assistance were the constraints in both the enterprises followed by non-availability of spawn in mushroom cultivation and high cost of fruits in fruit and vegetable preservation.ThesisItem Open Access Utilization of soil health card by the farmers of Thrissur district(Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2019) Reshmi, S; KAU; Binoo Bonny, P.Injudicious and hazardous use of chemical fertilizer in agriculture is a matter of concern in recent times. In order to avoid deterioration of soil in the long run and visualizing the importance of balanced nutrition in crop production, Government of India launched the soil health (SHC) programme in 2015. The Soil Health Card provides appropriate guidance to the farmers for the efficient use of fertilizer for crops based on soil health analysis. The SHC is a printed document, which contains data on soil test based chemical analysis to describe soil health in terms of its nutrient availability and its physical and chemical properties. The study was carried out in Thrissur district as it had the maximum number of SHC scheme beneficiaries in the State. A total of 180 respondents from the district formed the sample which constituted 150 farmers and 30 scheme implementing officers. Status of SHC use among farmers revealed the presence of four categories of SHC users viz. participant SHC scheme users, participant SHC scheme non-users, paid SHC users and non-participant non-users. Analysis of the socio-economic variables between the different categories of users and non-users of farmers revealed that the variables, farming experience, exposure to training and irrigation facility showed significant difference among the respondents at 0.05 and 0.01 levels with p values 0.040, 0.016 and 0.001 respectively. With regard to awareness on SHC, Paid SHC users had an overall awareness score of 461.52. On all selected awareness domains they had uniformly high scores except on general information on SHC scheme wherein the score was only 78.00 per cent. Regarding the spread of SHC in Thrisssur district, Chavakkad was the only block that covered more than 50 per cent of farmers. Extent of adoption measured using adoption index, and the results indicated that 50 per cent of the participant SHC scheme users were of medium adoption category, followed by 34 per cent of low adopters and only 16 per cent belonged to the high adoption category. However, in XXXII the case of paid soil test users, it could be inferred that majority of the farmers (60 per cent), came under high adoption category, followed by 33 per cent under medium level of adoption and only 7 per cent belonged to low adoption category. Correlation between the independent variables and adoption of SHC recommendations by participant SHC scheme users and paid SHC users revealed that, irrigation facility and farming experience showed positively significant correlation with adoption at 0.05 level for both the categories. It is also important to find that when scientific orientation recorded positive and significant relation with adoption at 0.01 level for both participant SHC scheme users and paid SHC users, training and education showed significant relation only for the paid SHC users at 0.01 and 0.05 levels of significance respectively. When 90 per cent of the paid SHC users showed favourable perception regarding the reliability of SHCs, only 40 per cent of the participant SHC scheme users displayed a favourable utility perception on the domain. With regard to the quantity of fertilizers (Urea, SSP, MOP) applied, and micronutrient use, there is significant difference between users and non-users with p values 0.44 and 0.017 respectively. Results of binary logistic regression of SHC users and non-users with socioeconomic variables and yield taken as independent variables revealed that a change in the level of education, farming experience, irrigation or yield could bring a corresponding chance of 64, 30, 31 and 67 per cent respectively for a non-user to become a user of SHC results. Majority of farmers (68 per cent) stated that the time gap between soil collection and distribution of cards was too long. The major constraint stated by officers was unavailability of field staffs for taking samples (68.23 per cent). Though the services were free under the scheme, farmers face a lot of impediments in getting full benefits of the scheme. It is suggested that the policy makers should conduct suitable awareness programs and trainings to promote the usage of soil health cards. Follow-up by extension agency, timely reporting of soil test results to farmers is crucial in whole programme. Effective utilization of the scheme also needs the presence of field level experts to clear doubts of farmers at the time of their need in a scientific way.ThesisItem Open Access Entrepreneurial behaviour of Hi-Tech farmers in Kerala(Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2019) Shilpa, Karat; KAU; Smitha, BabyThe conventional farming system in Kerala witnessed a path breaking change in the recent years with the adoption of hi-tech farming, which is a promising venture for the educated youth and part time farmers who are progressively attracted to agriculture. Keeping in view of this increasing acceptance of hi-tech farming, Kerala State Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare Department has initiated many programs to promote protected cultivation and precision farming in the state. However, the success of hi-tech farming is determined by crucial aspects such as the entrepreneurial attributes and marketing behavior of the farmer. With this background, the present study was undertaken to analyse the entrepreneurial and marketing behavior of the hi-tech farmers, their linkages with other sectors, constraints faced by them along with a SWOC analysis of the hi-tech farming sector. The results of the study would be greatly helpful for the policy makers, government and extension workers in formulating plans for hi-tech farming sector in Kerala. A total of 60 hi-tech farmers, 30 each of polyhouse and open precision were selected from Trissur and Palakkad districts through multistage sampling method. Entrepreneurial behavior was quantified using Entrepreneurial Behavior Index. The index was found to be higher (68.98) for open precision farmers compared to that of polyhouse farmers (64.87). Indices were formed separately for each of the nine selected dimensions of entrepreneurial behavior viz., innovativeness, decision making ability, achievement motivation, risk taking ability, planning ability, cosmopoliteness, self-confidence and information seeking behavior. Information seeking behavior gained highest index for both polyhouse and open precision farmers. Further, Mann-Whitney U test was performed to ascertain significance of the difference between two groups and it was found that the two groups were significantly different in their entrepreneurial behavior with respect to decision making ability, achievement motivation and self-confidence. The marketing behavior of hi-tech famers was studied for polyhouse and open precision farmers. The components selected were marketed surplus, marketing channels, distance to market, mode of transport, price satisfaction, access to market information, access to storage and post-harvest handling or value addition. Since 12 of the 30 polyhouse farmers had quit commercial production, only 18 polyhouse farmers were considered in studying the marketing behavior. The results of Discriminant Function Analysis revealed that there was significant XXV discrimination in marketing behavior of polyhouse and open precision farmers, particularly with respect to marketed surplus and distance to the market. The study also revealed that the hi-tech farmers had different types of backward linkages but their forward linkages were limited to linkages for market information and finance for marketing and did not have any kind of forward linkage with processing industries. The major constraints faced by the polyhouse farmers were technical and financial in nature, namely, lack of knowledge on repair and maintenance, inadequate skilled labor, low income and inadequate guidance on production. The open precision farmers also faced technical and financial constraints such as high cost of infrastructure, repair and maintenance and lack of services for repair and maintenance. Inadequate access to post-harvest handling and processing facilities was found to be the major constraint in marketing for both polyhouse and open precision farmers. SWOC analysis was conducted separately for the polyhouse and open precision farmers. It was found that the primary strength, weakness, opportunity and challenge in polyhouse farming were cultivation of unconventional crops that can fetch higher price in market, lack of knowledge on repair and maintenance, popularization of unconventional crops and limited sources of inputs in local markets respectively while that of open precision farmers were higher input use efficiency, high cost of infrastructure, large scale production to achieve self-sufficiency and difficulties in attaining new markets respectively. The hi-tech farming sector can be uplifted by providing better training and consultancy services to the farmers as the results showed strong correlation between their entrepreneurial behavior and extension contact. Trainings can enhance their technical know-how to generate skilled labor in the hi-tech farming sector. The linkages of the farmers with processing industries has to be strengthened to substantially increase the income of farmers and prevent losses.ThesisItem Open Access Technology assessment of plant protection practices of economically dominant crops in homegardens(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2015) Sujitha, P S; KAU; Seema, BThe study entitled “Technology assessment of plant protection practices of economically dominant crops in homegardens’' conducted in the Thiruvanathapuram district of Kerala state covering 100 homegardens having an area more than 25 cents were selected from five Agroecological units (AEU) viz.. Southern coastal plains, Southern central laterites, Southern high hills, Southern central foothills and Southern laterites. Twenty operational homegardens from each of the five panchayats belonging to the selected AEUs were chosen making the total sample size to 100 respondents. Delineation of economically dominant crops in homegardens, levels of adoption of selected KALJ plant protection practices, technology need assessment, constraints in adoption of plant protection practices and suggestions as perceived by the farmers were the major objectives of the study. The independent variables selected through judges rating were age, education, occupation, effective homegarden area, family size, farming experience, information source utilization, rational orientation, extension participation, knowledge, evaluative perception on sustainability of plant protection practices and economic motivation. The independent variable selected was adoption of selected KAU plant protection practices. The economically dominant crops identified were coconut, banana, tapioca, pepper, vegetables, yams and colacasia and arecanut respectively in the homegardens. The overall level of adoption of selected plant protection practices showed that majority (70%) of the respondents had medium level of adoption followed by 16% having high level and 14% low level of adoption. The adopter category curve delineated for the overall adoption showed that 45% of the respondents fell under early majority followed late majority (21%), laggards (16%), early adopters (14%), with no innovators. Differences in adopter categories were observed for different crops. Age, information source utilization and extension participation were found to have significant positive relationship with the dependent variable adoption of selected plant protection practices of KAU. In coconut, banana, tapioca and arecanut ease in operation was perceived as the most preferred plant protection criteria in homegardens. The result showed that 45% of the farmers found the preferred KAU plant protection practices to be useful however only 40% of the respondents felt it effective. Of the 17 ITK plant protection practices, four were specific to vegetables and banana each. Two were specific to plant protection of coconut and six of general practices. Major constraints identified were, plant protection chemicals not effective in their recommended dosage, followed by climatic influence on pest and incidence and non availability of plant protection chemicals. Suggested refinement in plant protection technology as perceived by the homegarden farmers were in generating of ecofriendly and organic plant protection measures that are suitable for homegardens followed by timely availability of plant protection inputs and generation of more pest and disease resistant varieties.ThesisItem Open Access Impact of the rice variety,Uma (Mo16) on farmers(Department of Agricultural Extension College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2015) Neshva; KAU; Sakeer, HusainRice is the staple food of the people of Kerala, and traditionally, the cultivation of rice has occupied pride of place in the agrarian economy of the state. Palakkad and Alappuzha are the two major rice-producing districts of Kerala. About 600 varieties of rice were grown in the sprawling paddy fields of Kerala. One of the most popular rice varieties of Kerala is Uma (Mo.16) developed by the Rice Research Station, Moncompu of Kerala Agricultural University and it occupies more than 60 percent of the paddy cultivation area in Kuttanad region. The study intended to analyse the attributes of the rice variety, Uma (Mo16) vis-a-vis other rice varieties as perceived by farmers and to assess the socio economic impact of Uma on rice cultivating farmers. The study was confined to Kuttanad tract of Alappuzha. An ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. Five padasekharams were selected through simple random sampling method, and from each padasekharam, 20 farmers cultivating the rice variety, Uma were selected, thus constituting a sample size of 100. A pretested structured interview schedule and PRA techniques were employed for data collection. The results revealed that tolerance to pests and diseases was ranked first with an index of 94.60 followed by non-lodging nature of plant (92.60), non-shattering nature of panicle (86.70), amenability to mechanisation (75.40), millers’ preference (49.60) and cooking quality (42.00). Varietal comparison of other rice varieties prevalent in Kuttanad area with ‘Uma’ using PRA technique revealed that ‘Uma’ was perceived as the superior variety with a score of 520.42 followed by Jyothi (443.95) and Prathyasa (418.72). Results of SWOC analysis done using PRA techniques, revealed that among the strengths, ‘high yield’ ranked first with an index of 98.80 followed by ‘tolerance against pest and disease incidence’ (96.00), ‘high grain weight’ (91.00), ‘high tillering capacity’ (89.00) and ‘high seed dormancy’ (85.2). However, low cooking quality (96.10) and less preference of the rice variety by millers (94.2) were emerged as the major weaknesses. It was, also found that all the respondents were continuously cultivating ‘Uma’ without any varietal shift. Majority (56 per cent) of the farmers had been continuously cultivating the rice variety, Uma for the past 15-17 years. With regard to the social impact on farmers, it was revealed that social participation has improved significantly. Similarly, information seeking behaviour has also increased positively, where as labour use has decreased significantly. However, there was no significant change in the communication behaviour of farmers. As regards economic impact, ‘annual income’, ‘family expenditure’, ‘savings’ and ‘asset creation’ of farmers have increased significantly after cultivation of the rice variety, Uma as compared to pre-Uma period. Indebtedness of farmers was also found to have decreased. Thus, the rice variety Uma could make a very promising impact on the socio- economic variables of farmers. Regarding comparative income advantage of Uma, it was found that this variety had an income advantage of Rs.38000/- per ha over the variety, Jyothi and Rs.95000/- per ha over local varieties. Thus, for a single puncha season, Uma had given an additional income of Rs.104.30 crores as compared to Jyothi and Rs.260.75 crores as compared to local varieties, in Kuttanad tract of Alappuzha alone. With regard to constraints faced by Kuttanad farmers, ‘non-availability of labour’ was ranked first with an index of 98.60 followed by ‘high cost of inputs’ like fertilizers and pesticides (89.60), ‘vagaries of weather and climatic conditions’ (81.20) and ‘non fixing of floor price on time’ (70.80
