Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively. Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively. On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs. In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc. During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.

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Open Access
Analysis of the effectiveness of national demonstraions conducted by the Kerala agricultural university
(Department of Agricultural extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1988) Syamala, K S; KAU; Balakrishnan, C
With a view to study the effectiveness of the National Demonstrations on the behaviour of farmers, the present investigation was undertaken under the title “An analysis of the effectiveness of National Demonstrations Conducted by the Kerala Agricultural University”. Effectiveness was measured in terms of the farmers’ knowing about, attitude towards the adoption of the demonstrated cultivation practices of paddy and their attitude towards the National Demonstration program. The farmers’ perception about the methodology followed in the conduct of the demonstrations and the constraints experienced by the farmer-demonstrations in conducting National Demonstrations were also analysed. The study was conducted in Quilon district where the program is ongoing. The sample consisted of 46 farmer-demonstrators and 100 randomly selected neighboring farmers. Data were collected using interview schedule and suitable statistical techniques were employed in the analysis of the data. The study revealed that the farmer-demonstrators’ knowledge about, attitude towards and adoption of the demonstrated practices were significantly affected by the National Demonstration program. The farmer demonstrators’ attitude towards the program was also favourable. But the effectiveness of the program was much less among the neighboring farmers. The selected independent variables together contributed significantly in the variation in the knowledge about and attitude towards the demonstrated practices of the farmer-demonstrators, but not in their adoption and attitude towards the programme. In the case of neighbouring farmers, the contribution of the selected independent variables in the variation in their knowledge, attitude and adoption of the practices and attitude towards National Demonstration program was significant. The methodology followed in the conduct of the demonstrations was not satisfactory as perceived by the farmers. The results of the constraint analysis also pointed out that follow-up, trainings and field days were given the least attention. The results point out to the need for proper planning and improvement in every step in the conduct of the programme to reach its cherished goals.
Open 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.
Open 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.
Open Access
Impact of farm broadcast on the adoption of agricultural innovations by the farmers of Nuwakot District of Nepal
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Narayan Prasad, Khanal; Tampi, A M
This study titled " Impact of farm broadcast on the adoption of agricultural innovations by the Farmers of Nuwakot District of Nepal" was carried out with following objectives. (1) To assess the level of knowledge of the radio listening farmers in agriculture. (2) To study the attitude of the farmer listeners towards farm broadcasts. (3) To measure the extent of adoption on recommendations given through farm broadcasts. (4) To analyse the listening behaviour of the farmers with respect to personal characteristics. The selected characteristics were age, education, farm size, scientific orientation, innovation proneness, social participation, radio ownership, radio accessibility and listening behaviour.
Open Access
Utilization of soil test recommendations by the farmers in Trivandrum district
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1987) Balan, S; KAU; Muraleedhara Prasad, R
Open Access
Role of Farm Women in the decision making process of a farming community in Trivandrum District
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Seema, B; KAU; Muraleedhara Prasad, R
A study was undertaken among the farm women of Nadar community in Neyyattinkara taluk of Trivandrum district in order to find the role played by them in decision making related to their farm and home. The study was conducted with the following objectives: 1. To identify the areas of decision making by the farm women related to their socioeconomic life. 2. To study the role perception and role performance of the farm women in decision making. 3. To study the extent of participation of farm women in implementing the decisions related to their socio-economic life. 4. To correlate the selected characteristics of farm women and their role perception role performance and extent of participation in implementing the decisions. The study revealed that more than 50 per cent of the respondents perceived six areas viz, decisions regarding purchase and sale of land, storage and marketing of produce, care and management of animals, family budget and children's education as very important whereas, decisions regarding plant protection and implements to be used were perceived as not important. Among the 14 areas studied, joint decisions were made in purchase and sale of land, care and management of animals and children's education. Independent decisions were made in storage and marketing of produce. Majority of the respondents participated in implementing the decisions, in storage marketing of produce and care and management of animals. Occupation was the only variable found to have significant relation with role perception.Attitude towards farming and knowledge in fanning were found to be negatively, but significantly related with joint role performance. Significant positive relation was established between contact with extension agency and independent role performances Attitude of women towards their status and extent of participation in implementing the decisions were positively related.
Open Access
Communication behaviour of tribal farmers - a system analysis
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1986) Subramoniam, K; KAU; Balakrishna Pillai, G
The research was conducted in Nedumangad taluk of Trivandrum District to study the communication behaviour of tribal farmers Data were collected from 110 'Kanikkars. from six villages of the taluk based on the method of probability proportionate to size. Farmers were interviewed individually, using the schedule developed for the purpose. Group discussions and participant observations were also made use of for the investigation The study revealed the following; Majority of the tribal farmers had only low level of communication behaviour. The information input of tribal farmers was relatively high. They received information from mass media such as the radio and newspaper and personal localite sources -such as neighbours and relatives. Majority of the farmers communicated information to other farmers of the settlement while personal talk during home visit. Feed back to the mass media was nil. Feed back-to cosmopolite sources was relatively less, while that to personal localite sources was comparatively high. Highest feed back was about the information regarding the sanction of subsidies etc. ’Neighbours and relatives' were the most important sources of information to the tribal farmers followed by radio and newspaper. Tribal leader and Tribal Extension Worker were the next' sources in the order of preference. Age was found to be negatively correlated with communication behaviour. Education, . innovation proneness, attitude towards block extension agency, social participation, information seeking behaviour and cosmopoliteness were positively associated with communication behaviour, whereas fatalism had no correlation. Step wise regression analysis revealed that information seeking behaviour, attitude towards Block extension agency, education and social participation explained 83.00 per cent variation in communication behaviour, while all the independent variables together contributed only to 84.22 per cent of change in communication behaviour. Information seeking behaviour emerged as the most important variable in predicting the communication behaviour by contributing to 74.00 per cent of the variation
Open Access
Extent of adoption of messages by contact farmers in T & V systems
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1987) Prasannan, K M; KAU; Tampi, A M
A research study was conducted in Neyyatinkara Nedumangadu and Attingal subdivision of Trivandrum district of Kerala to study the following 1. To identify the messages on improved agricultural practices on major crops communicated to the contact farmers by the T & V system 2. To assess the extent of adoption of the messages communicated during the season 3. To study the personal, psychological and economic characters of contact farmers with their extent of adoption 4. To delinate the constraints experienced by the contact farmers in the adoption of the messages
Open Access
Training needs in agriculture of 'Irulas' of Attappady
(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1988) Kanaga Sabapathi, K; KAU; Balakrishna Pillai, G
The study on the training needs in agriculture of 'Irulas* of Attappady was carried out with the following objectives: 1. To identify the training needs in Agriculture of irulas. 2. To determine the level of Knowledge of ’Irulas on the cultivation of Important crops. 3* To assess the type, duration, season, venue and frequency of the trainings required as perceived by the Irulas. 4. To find out the association between the training needs and the socio-psychological characters of Irulas. Irulas form the numerically dominant tribe of 'Attappady' valley of F&lghat district, in Kerala State, A sample of 100 Irula farmers was selected from the four villages of Attappady using random and proportional allocation techniques. Personal interviews were conducted with the help of a well structured and pre-tested interview schedule. The data so collected were analysed with the help of suitable statistical techniques. The salient findings of the study are as follows. Nearly half of the respondents (46 par cent) perceived only low level of training need. Twenty four per cent perceived a high need for training while 30 per cent fell in the medium group, who perceived a medium level of training need. Because of the high illiteracy and poor exposure to training programmes, they perceived low level of training need. tfith regard to the perception of training needs for the important crops, Ragi ranked first and it was followed by training needs in Jowar, Pulses, Maize, Chamai, Groundnut and Paddy respectively. With regard to the perception of training needs in respect to the major operations in general, plant protection was perceived as the area having most important training need. Other important areas of training needs in the descending order of preference were intercultural operations, manuring, seeds and sowing and land preparation.

Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

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