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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: Lakhsmi Shilpa, V × End date: 2013 × Start date: 2013 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Management options for the Kole wetland ecosystem through stakeholder studies
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2013) Lakhsmi Shilpa, V; KAU; Jayasree, Krishnankutty
    Wetland management strategy is not very scientifically drawn in India. In Kerala, state policies do not reflect the conservation element. The kole wetlands are central Kerala’s unique rice production ecosystem. The ecosystem significance of the area is evidenced by its inclusion as a Ramsar site, and recently, they have been considered a separate high value biodiversity area. The development policies so far do not uphold the provisions for ecosystem protection of the wetlands. Covering visible interests of the stakeholders, policy makers touch the politically correct options alone. The marginalised and voiceless stakeholders mostly lose their interests and so do the ecological concerns, with no one to project them. This study aimed to come out with policy suggestions as to how wetland conservation without sacrificing the human economic activity can be carried out which will inform management plans for the wetlands in the long run. The study has been conducted in six randomly selected panchayats, three from each of Thrissur kole and Ponnani kole, which were Arimpur, Paralam and Thanniyam from Thrissur kole and Kattakampal, Perumpadappu and Nannamukku from Ponnani kole. Major Stakeholder groups were identified using the snow ball sampling technique. The major stakeholder groups identified were farmers, government departments, agricultural labourers, input agencies, cooperatives, marketing agencies and NGOs. Stakeholder interactions and information from secondary data led to the development of structural and functional relationships among the stakeholder groups. Farmers’ awareness regarding various ecosystem services provided by the kole lands was studied. The ecosystem functions provided by the kole lands have been categorised into seven such as hydrological, chemical, recreational, biological, environmental, socio-economic and other functions. Awareness of the respondents of the Thrissur and Ponnani koles was analysed and stakeholders from both koles were commonly aware of 14 services. Preferences of the stakeholders regarding resource use of the kole lands were studied using a five point continuum. The major preferences lay in the premises of livelihood provision, food production, water conservation, role as a natural resource base, water storage, soil nutrient regulation and provision of leisure activities. Stakeholders’ perspectives were elaborately studied by concept mapping procedure. The perspectives were classified into production, environmental, socio-economic and ancillary services. Multidimensional scaling was used to develop a map where each perspective is a point on the map. Proximity values of the perspectives were considered to interpret the output. As a result similar perspectives were grouped into one cluster. Concepts in the clusters were suitably labelled. Based on all the analyses done, management options for the kole lands were developed. The important ones were neededs for promotion of more than one crop in kole, need for integrated farming, proper maintenance of water ways, promotion of organic measures, education of farmers on water conservation measures and the like. The study points towards the need for extensive measures for problem identification and management in kole lands to sustain them as a major rice producing area in Kerala.