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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 × End date: 1987 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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Now showing 1 - 9 of 38
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Influence of leaders in the development of rural areas
    (Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1981) Shilaja, S; KAU; Tampi, A M
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    ThesisItemOpen 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 T
    The 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.
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    ThesisItemOpen 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, G
    This 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.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Training programmes of Kerala agricultural university krishi vignan kendras- an analysis
    (Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1987) Sanjeev, K V; KAU; Thiagarajan Nair, G
    A study was conducted in Palghat and Wynad district to analyse the training programmes undertaken by Krishi Vignan Kendras at Pattambi and Ambalavayal. Impact of training with respect to the knowledge about, attitude towards and adoption of improved paddy cultivation practices was assessed. The study also aimed at identifying the motivational pattern of farmers for participation in training, their perception about training, suggestions for future trainings, and their training needs. Ex-post-facto design was used for the study. Data were collected from 80 trained farmers and 80 untrained farmers from Palghat and Wynad. Statistical analysis was done using non-parametric procedures. The study revealed that participation in training improved the knowledge of farmers about improved paddy cultivation practices, created favourable attitude towards improved paddy cultivation practices and there was increased adoption of the various practices. Of the eight independent variables considered in the study, only farming experience was found to be significantly related to the impact variables and that too only to the knowledge of farmers. Major motives of farmers in attending the training were economic motive, innovativeness, prestige motive and affiliation motive. Among tribal farmers in Wynad, affiliation motive was found to be stronger than prestige motive. Majority of the trained farmers perceived the training to be satisfactory with regard to the time of training, venue of training, use of audio-visual aids, opportunity for field visit and arrangements made at the venue. Training in the farmer’s field was proffered by majority of the farmers to institutional training. They preferred discussion method to lecture method. They wanted to have more of method demonstrations and issue of printed notes and preferred a training duration of one day. Areas in which farmers needed further trainings were high yielding varieties of paddy and their characters, fertilizers and their application and use of plant protection chemicals.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Analysis of the inservice training programme for the personnel of the department of agriculture conducted by the Kerala agricultural university
    (Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1987) Santhi, C U; KAU; Menon, A G G
    A study was undertaken to analyse the selected inservice training programmes conducted by the Kerala Agricultural University for the extension personel of the State Department of Agriculture to assess, 1. the impact of selected inservice training programmes on the professional knowledge of the trainees 2. the perception of the trainees about the treatment and utility of the selected inservice training programmes 3. the perceived effectiveness of training methodology followed in the inservice training programmes and factors related to it 4. the constraints experienced by the trainees, trainers and Course Directors of inservice training programmes conducted by the Kerala Agricultural University. Three selected training programmes namely ‘Training in plant protection for Agricultural Demonstrators’, ‘Training in pulses and oilseeds production technology for Agricultural Officers’ and ‘Training in audio-visual aids and techniques for Assistant Directors of Agriculture were evaluated with the objectives mentioned above. The study revealed that all the three categories of trainee-respondents namely, Agricultural Demonstrators, Agricultural Officers and Assistant Directors showed significant gain in knowledge due to the training programmes. The gain in knowledge due to training was the highest for Assistant Directors of Agriculture, followed by the Agricultural Officers and Agricultural Demonstrators. The independent variables namely; ‘education’, ‘number of previous trainings undergone’, ‘attitude towards extension profession’ and ‘job satisfaction’ of Agricultural Demonstrators were found to be significantly associated with their gain in knowledge. In the case of Agricultural Officers and Assistant Directors none of the independent variables showed significant association with their gain in knowledge. Among the three training programmes the ‘training in plant protection for Agricultural Demonstrators’ had the highest treatment-utility index (58.43), followed by the ‘training in pulses and oilseeds production technology for Agricultural Officers’ and ‘training in audio-visual aids and techniques for Assistant Directors’ for which the treatment – utility indices were 58.27 and 51.42 respectively. Both the Agricultural Demonstrators and Assistant Directors had the highest perception about the training methodology aspect namely ‘Timeliness of information about the training’ where as the Agricultural Officers had highest perception about the ‘Selection of subject matter for training’ in the pre-training stage. ‘The competency of the trainers in general’ was the training methodology aspect which was highly appreciated by the Agricultural Demonstrators in the in-training stage. ‘Opportunities for clarification of doubts’ and ‘opportunities for trainees participation’ were given highest perception scores respectively by the Agricultural Officers and Assistant Directors in the in-training stage. In the post-training stage all the three categories of respondents namely the Agricultural Demonstrators, Agricultural Officers and Assistant Directors had the highest perception about the ‘Monitoring and evaluation of training’. The Agricultural Demonstrators were constrained with the ‘Poor lodging facilities and poor boarding facilities’ provided for them. The ‘Lack of skill practice’, ‘Inadequate practicals’ and ‘Lack of field visits’ were the serious constraints experienced by the Agricultural Officers. The Assistant Directors perceived the ‘Insufficient transportation facilities’ and ‘Non-supply of training literature’ as serious constraints. Both the trainers and Course Directors felt the ‘inadequacy of transportation facilities’ as serious constraint.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of the training programmes under training and visit system in Kerala
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1984) Rajababu, M; KAU; Tampi, A M
    The study was undertaken in Neyyattinkara (Trivandrum district ). Adoor (Quilon district) and Mavelikkara (Alleppey district) sub divisions in order to eveluvate the training programmes conducted under T & V system. Objectives of the study were the following. 1. To analyse the major training components, namely, the trainer, the trainee and the subject matter and other related components within the T & V system. 2. To study the perception and performance of these training components by the trainees towards achieving effective training programmes within the T & V system. 3. To analyse the methodology of training and the transfer of technology within the T & V system as perceived and employed by the trainees. 4. To find out the relationship between the perception and performance of the trainees with their personal characteristics.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Study on the impact of national demonstration programme on paddy cultivation in Trichur District
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1981) Kamarudeen, M; KAU; Tampi, A M
    The investigation was undertaken in Trichur district, Kerala, to study the impact of National Demonstration Programme in paddy cultivation among the farmers neighbouring to the demonstration plots. The objective of the investigation were to study. 1. The level of knowledge of farmers neighbouring to the demonstration plots on the selected practices of paddy demonstrated under the programme. 2. The attitude of farmers neighbouring to the demonstration plots towards the selected practices of paddy demonstrated under the programme. 3. The extent of adoption of the selected demonstrated practices of paddy by the farmers neighbouring to the demostration plots. 4. The relatinship between the characteristics of farmers and level of knowledge , attitude and extent of adoption. The study revealed that the neighbour farmers were superior to the control farmers in respect of their level of knowledge on the demonstrated cultivation practices of paddy. Out of the eleven independent variables selected , education, social participation, contact with extensionagencies, information source utilisation, scientific orientation , risk preference and management orientation had positive and significant relationship with level of knowledge.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Study of factors affecting the adoption of selected agricultural practices
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1978) Rajendran, P; KAU; Menon, A G G
    Rice is the staple food of the people of Kerala. But Kerala is deficient in its rice production by about 50 per cent. All most all the cultivable area has already been brought under the plough. Therefore, the scope for increasing the area under rice is rather limited. The fact that more than 50 per cent of the cropped area is devoted for perinnial cash crops further limits the scope for expansion of area under rice. Besides 60 per cent of the holdings are less than 1 acre in extent . Therefore, the only possibility to increase rice production is to increase the gross area under rice by resorting to scientific cultivation practices. A number of development programmes particularly focused on rice production have been introduced and implemented in the state. Improved technology required for stepping up rice production was also diffused with great vigour and enthusiasm.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Study on the impact of intensive paddy development programme in Kerala
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1978) Humayun Kaleel, F M; KAU; Menon, A G G
    A study conducted in Trichur district, Kerala to study (1) the extent of adoption of improved agricultural practices (2) the gain in knowledge about the subject matter and (3) the extent of participation in agricultural extension programmes by the farmers, due to the IPD programme, revealed that high adopters of improved agricultural practices were more in the IPD area than in the non IPD area. Out of the 7 variables selected to study the relationship with the above factors, contact with extension agencies, education, social participation and income had positive and significant relationship with adoption. Respondents in the IPD area gained more knowledge about subject matter. Education and social participation had positive and significant influence on the gain in knowledge.