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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 Development and application of a scale to measure the efficiency of adult education centres(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1990) Padmanabhan, V B; KAU; Thampi, A MThis study on the development and application of a scale to measure the efficiency of Adult Education Centres (AECs) was designed to develop and standardize a scale to measure the efficiency of AECs, to evaluate the selected AECs by using the scale developed and to suggest a model for the efficient functioning of AECs. The study was conducted in the Rural Functional Literacy Programme (RFLP) centres of the Rural Development Blocks of Ollukkara and Kodakara in Thrissur district during 1989. A three stage sampling design was adopted for the study. Instructors and learners of the AECs were the two types of respondents included in the study. Efficiency of AEC (dependent variable) and selected 41 factors (independent variables) were the variables for the study. The data were collected from the instructors by using questionnaires and from the learners by using interview schedules. The collected data were analysed using appropriate statistical techniques including percentage analysis, simple, linear correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, step-wise regression analysis and path coefficient analysis. The salient findings oDepartment of Agricultural Extension College of Agriculturef the study are as follows : 1. Thirty seven independent variables out of the 41 were found to have significant positive relationship with the efficiency of AEC. Job commitment of instructor had the highest value of correlation coefficient. 2. The selected 24 independent variables taken together accounted for 98.35 per cent variation in the efficiency of AEC. The nine variables which were found to exert significant influence on the efficiency of AEC when taken together accounted for 96.27 per cent variation in the efficiency of AEC. 3. The best prediction equation was with eight variables which accounted for 93.97 per cent variation in the efficiency of AEC. These variables were instructor-learner communication, information processing behaviour of instructor, job commitment of instructor, job satisfaction of instructor, human resources, supply of inputs, monitoring and empathy of learner. 4. Job commitment of instructor alone explained 89.03 per cent variation in the efficiency of AEC. 5. Job commitment of instructor had the largest direct effect on the efficiency of AEC and its three components, namely, achievements of learners in literacy, awareness and functionality. The high positive correlations of all the other factors with the efficiency of AEC and its components were due to their positive inter-relationship with job commitment of instructor. 6. The scale developed to measure the efficiency of AECs was found to have high validity (content, criterion – related and concurrent) and reliability (test-rest and split-half). 7. The distribution of scores obtained on evaluating the selected AECs by using the scale was found to be normal. 8. A model was suggested for the efficient functioning of AECs based on the results of this study.ThesisItem Open Access Managerial efficiency of cassava farmers(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1991) Asnantharaman, M; KAU; Thyagarajan Nair, GThe study aimed at analyzing the managerial efficiency of cassava farmers. It was conducted in four districts namely, Thiruvananthapuram (low productivity), and Pathanamthitta (high productivity) in Kerala State and Kanyakumari (low productivity) and Selem (high productivity) in Tamil Nadu state. The first three districts were considered as non- industrial district and Selem district was considered as industrial district also. A total of 240 cassava farmers were selected, 60 from each district following stratified random sampling. The managerial efficiency was measured with the help of a scale consisting of 30 items developed for the study. The data on the managerial efficiency of farmers and on the fifteen socio- psychological and situational factors of the farmers were collected using an interview schedule. The components of managerial efficiency identified empirically were ‘planning’, ‘labour management’, ‘information management’, ‘financial management’ ‘production management (variety)’, ‘production management (practices)’ and ‘marketing management’. The managerial efficiency of cassava farmers as the whole was somewhat better as little more than half of the farmers had high managerial efficiency. While the farmers exhibited high efficiency in the managerial components namely, ‘planning’, ‘labour management’, ‘financial management’ and marketing management’, they were not efficient in the components of ‘Information management’, ‘production management (variety)’ and ‘production management (practices)’. The farmers of industrial district were found to have significantly higher efficiency in the overall managerial efficiency as well as in the managerial components viz., ‘planning’, ‘information management’, ‘financial management’, ‘production management (variety)’, and ‘production management (practices)’ when compared to farmers of non- industrial district. The component- wise performance of farmers on the whole was in the order of ‘labour management’, ‘marketing management’, ‘planning’, ‘financial management’, ‘production management (practices)’, ‘information management’, and ‘production management (variety)’. While farmers of industrial district relatively performed well in ‘production management (variety)’, ‘production management (practices)’ and ‘planning’ when compared to other components, non-industrial district farmers performance was good at ‘labour management’, ‘marketing management’ and ‘financial management’. The managerial components namely, ‘planning’, ‘information management’ and ‘financial management’ were found to be relatively more important than other components with regard to their contribution towards the profit from cassava cultivation. The socio-psychological and situational factors namely, closeness with agricultural support system, market perception, achievement motivation, economic motivation, attitude towards scientific management in crop enterprise, knowledge on scientific management in crop enterprise, cultivated holding, cassava area and irrigation potential were found to be significantly contributing to the managerial efficiency. The major managerial constraints faced by the farmers were lack of awareness, knowledge, conviction, timely information and planting materials; limited resources, uncertainty and shortage of labourers.ThesisItem Open Access Factors influencing the development of agriculture among the 'kanikkar' tribe of Kerala(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Jaleel, M M; KAU; Bhaskaran, SThe study on the factors influencing the development of agiculture among the 'Kanikkar' tribe of Kerala was carried out with the following objectives: To study the characteristic profile of the tribal people. To identify the agricultural development indicators in tribal areas. To assess the extent of agricultural development in tribal areas. To find out the association between the agricultural development indicators and the selected socio-economic characteristics of 'Kanikkars'. To identify the factors influencing agricultural development in tribal areas. To identify the constraints affecting agricultural development in tribal areas. Kanikkars form the dominant tribe of South Kerala. A sample of 100 Kani-farmers was selected from the five Panchayats of Nedumangad Taluk of Thiruvananthapuram District using purposive, proportional and random 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 extent of agricultural development was assessed using the three agricultural development indicators selected for the purpose of the study/ which were the dependent variables namely knowledge about improved cultivation practices/ attitude towards farming/ and adoption of modern techniques of cultivation. The independent variables selected and utilised for the purpose of the study were age/education/ farming experience/ organisation participation/ risk orientation/ credit orientation/ cosmopoliteness/ extension participation/ extension contact/ mass media participation and land possession. The salient findings of the study are as follows: Nearly half of the respondents (49%) were young. Majority of them had high levels of education/ risk orientation/ credit orientation/ cosmopliteness and mass media participation/ while most of them had low lev^s of farming experience/ organisation participation, extension participat ion/ extension contact and land possession. Though majority of the Kanikkars hod o better knowledge on the scientific cultivation practices and a favourable attitude towards farming, the adoption level of modern techniques of cultivation was low. Of the 11 variables studied, land possession was found to have a non-significant correlation with the three dependent variables. Credit orientation was found to have a significant correlation only with attitude. Of the variables which were having a significant correlation with the three dependent variables, age and farming experience were negatively correlated. The crucial variables through which indirect effects were channelled were: education, risk orientation and extension participation with regard to knowledge about improved cultivation practices, education, cosmopoliteness and mass media participation with respect to attitude towards farming and age, farming experience and extension contact with reference to adoption of modern techniques of cultivation.ThesisItem Open Access Adoption of improved agricultural practices by commercial vegetable growers of Ollukkara Block in Trichur District(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) Binoo, P Bonny; KAU; Muraleedhara Prasad, RWith a view to study the existing scenario of commercial vegetable cultivation, the present investigation was undertaken in two selected Panchayats in Ollukkara Block in Thrissur. The study was conducted in relation to knowledge of farmers about improved vegetable cultivation practices, their .training need in commercial cultivation of vegetable ,and extent of adoption of recommended vegetable cultivation practices. The study was conducted on 100 randomly selected vegetable growers. The data were collected using pre-tested and well structured interview schedule. Correlation and step-wiser egression analyses were employed for analysis of data. The study revealed that majority of farmers were medium in their level of knowledge, training need and extent of adoption. Highest training need was perceived in plant protection. Higher adoption was also observed in plant protection measures. The results of step-wise regression analysis indicated information source utilisation as the most important variable explaining maximum variation in the level of knowledge and training need. In the case of adoption of improved practices, irrigation potential was the most decisive variable as revealed by the step wise regression analysis. The results of constraint analysis pointed out high cost of plant protection chemicals as the most felt constraint 'in the commercial cultivation of vegetables. The other important constraints as perceived by the farmers were inadequate market and storage and post harvest facilities.ThesisItem Open Access Feasibility analysis of group approach in the transfer of pepper production technology(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) John, T D; KAU; Muraleedhara Prasad, RA study was undertaken to analyse the utility of group approach in the transfer of pepper production technology in Wayanad and Kozhikode districts of Kerala State by forming three types of groups, namely existing, focused and identified focused groups. Under each of the group type, three different sizes of groups (n1 = between 10 and 14; = between 15 and 19; N3= between 20 and 24) were formed for the study. Individual pepper farmers (n = 50) were also selected to serve as control for the study. The group performance in terms of adoption of recommended pepper cultivation practices was studied in relation to the group processes. The data were collected in two phases, the first phase immediately after the formation of groups and the second phase after one crop season. The study revealed that there was significant difference between the types of groups in the extent of adoption when studied immediately after the formation of groups. However, when studied after one season, no significant difference in adoption was noted between the types of groups. There was no significant difference between the size groups in the extent of adoption studied immediately after the formation of groups and also after one season. There was substantial increase in the group related processes such as social participation, interpersonal liking, interpersonal trust, interpersonal contact, co-operation and farmer to farmer interaction, when measured after the functioning of the group for one season. There was' significant difference between the mean scores on knowledge on pepper cultivation in the case of all the group types when studied immediately after the formation of groups and after one season. Absence of a government agency in organising the farmers and providing .proper guidance was . expressed as the most important constraint of group approach in pepper cultivation followed by lack of knowledge and awareness about group approach in pepper cultivation. Severity of quick wilt disease, very small holding size and absence of beneficial programmes were rated as the other important constraints of group approach in pepper cultivation.ThesisItem Open Access Utilization of biogas technology by the farmers of Palakkad(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1990) Latha, A; KAU; Muraleedhara Prasad, RA - study \/as undertaken to analyse the extent of utilization of biogas technology by the farmers of Palakkad district of Kerala State in relation to their attitude, perception and motivational pattern in the adoption of biogas technology. The respondents selected for study included both users (n = 80) and non-users (n - 80) of biogas technology. The study revealed that there was no significant difference in the attitude of users and non-users towards, biogas technology. Among the six attributes of biogas technology studied in relation to perception, simplicity obtained the highest rank -followed by fuel efficiency, profitability, fertilizer efficiency, need compatibility and lot; cost in that order. 'Safety' was indicated as the most important motive governing the adoption of biogas technology and prestige motive, the least important. Among the selected.independent variables, utilization of interpersonal sources of information, perception about the efficiency of biogas technology, indebtedness, utilization of ether sources of fuel and innovation proneness were found .significant in predicting the maximum variation in attitude of users towards biogas technology, while utilization of interpersonal sources of information, family educational status,social participation; availability of other sources of fuel and educational status were important in predicting the attitude of non-users. Utilization of interpersonal sources of information, utilization of other sources of fuel, indebtedness, livestock possession and educational status were found significant in predicting the perception of users about the efficiency of biogas technology. 'Mixing slurry everyday is a botheration' was expressed by users as the most important constraint in utilization of biogas technology followed by low gas production during monsoon' and 'need for constant care of the plant. Most of the non-users had not adopted the technology due to the botheration for maintenance of the plant, availability of plenty of firewood and high installation cost of the plant.ThesisItem Open Access Feasibility and utilization of agricultural technologies among scheduled caste farmers(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Rajendran, P; KAU; Menon, A GA Study was conducted in Kerala State with the over-riding objective of analyzing the feasibility perception and utilization pattern of agricultural technologies by the scheduled caste farmers of the state and the constraints in and the consequences of utilization of technologies by them. The study was conducted covering all the five agro-climatic regions of the state, using probability proportionate to size random sampling procedure. Three hundred and thirty seven scheduled caste farmers from five panchayaths coming under five Blocks with the highest scheduled caste population representing each agro-climatic region were selected as the respondents. Five enterprises viz, coconut cultivation, tuber crops cultivation, banana cultivation, cattle rearing and goat rearing were selected and five specific practices for each of these enterprises were selected for assessing the utilization pattern of farmers. Feasibility of technology was analysed in terms of different attributes. Fifteen attributes viz., initial cost, availability of raw materials, availability of supplies and services, physical compatibility, efficiency profitability, availability of technology, simplicity suitability time utilization pattern, social acceptability, rapidity of returns, income generation potential, regularity of returns and viability, were selected for the study. The characteristics of the farmers such as education, family size, experience in farming, farm size, annual income, indebtedness, social participation, extension guidance, extension participation, cosmopoliteness, achievement orientation, development orientation, risk orientation, economic motivation, market orientation, self confidence, level of aspiration, rational orientation and innovativeness were selected for the study. These variables were quantified using standardized procedures. Statistical methods such as mena, percentage analysis, zero-order correlation, Kruskallwalli’s one-way analysis of variance, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance, spearman rank order correlation and stepwise regression analysis were employed for analyzing the data. The major findings of the study were: 1. Goat rearing was perceived as the most feasible enterprise while cattle rearing was perceived the least feasible enterprise by the respondents in general, 2. Agro-climatic differentiations caused variations in the perception of feasibility of the enterprises. 3. Simplicity, initial cost, physical compatibility, suitability, availability of raw materials, efficiency and availability of technology were found to be the crucial determinants of feasibility of agricultural technologies in general. 4. More than 50 percent of the respondents were distributed in the medium category with respect to the level of utilization of the selected enterprises, 5. Feasibility perception of the enterprises and its utilization by the respondents were found significantly related with respect to only coconut and cattle enterprises. 6. There was marked inter regional differences in most cases with respect to feasibility perception and utilization of practices for the five enterprises studied, 7. Lack of technical knowledge, lack of necessary supporting services and unavailability of raw materials were reported as the major constraints in the utilization of agricultural technologies in general. 8. Untimely and ineffective utilization of inputs and inclusion in the defaulters list of credit agencies were reported as the major consequences of utilization of agricultural technologies in general. 9. The characteristics of the respondents viz., extension guidance, risk orientation, self confidence, education, economic motivation, market orientation and cosmopoliteness were found to be significant in influencing and explaining the variation in the utilization of the enterprises by the scheduled caste farmers. Based on the findings of the study, a model for the effective implementation of agricultural development programmes among scheduled caste farmers in the state has been suggested.ThesisItem Open Access Role of krishi bhavans in agricultural development in Thiruvananthapuram district(Department of Agricultural extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Suresh, Nelson; KAU; Sobhana, GThe study, ‘Role of Krishi Bhavans in Agricultural Development in Thiruvananthapuram District’ was conducted among Agricultural Extension Personnel and farmers in the three agricultural sub-divisions of the district viz. Neyyattinkara, Nedumangad and Attingal with the following specific objectives: To analyse the role of krshi Bhavans in Agricultural Development as perceived by farmers and Agricultural Extension Personnel. To study the awareness of farmers and Agricultural Extension Personnal about the concept and functioning of Krishi Bhavans. To study the attitude of farmers and Agricultural Extension Personnel towards Krishi Bhavans. To identify the constraints, if any, perceived by farmers and Agricultural Extension Personnel in the functioning of Krishi Bhavans. The study was conducted among 30 AOs. 30 AAS, 30 Karshika Vikasana Samithy Members and 60 other farmers, randomly selected from 30 krishi Bhavans of the district. The roles of Krishi Bhavans were analysed in terms of perceived importance and performance of the roles by the Agricultural Extension Personnel and farmers. Awareness was measured using the schedule developed for the study. Attitude towards Krishi Bhavans was measured using the attitude scale developed for the purpose. The characteristics of respondents were quantified using either adopted scales or schedules developed for the study. Constraints in the functioning of Krishi Bhavans were also identified as perceived by Agricultural Extension Personnel and farmers. Out of the thirty five identified roles, seven roles were perceived as important by all the four categories of respondents viz. AOs, AAS, Karshika Vikasana Samithy Members and other farmers. Of the seven roles, five were perceived by all of them as being adequately performed. The roles which were not adequately performed according to them were (i) Conducting method demonstrations, result demonstrations and Minikit trials in farmers’ fields. (ii) Arranging loans from Banks and Societies to farmers for agricultural purposes. Majority of the respondents ie. 56.67 per cent of AOs, 53.33 per cent of AAs, 56.67 per cent of Karshika Vikasana Samithy Members and 53.33 per cent of other farmers were having higher level of awareness about Krishi Bhavans. Job commitment of AOs was positively and significantly related to their awareness. None of the selected characteristics of AAs had significant relationship with their awareness. Education, social participation, contact with extension agency, innovativeness and scientific orientation of Karshika Vikasana Samithy Members and social participation, information source utilisation and innovativeness of other farmers were positively and significantly related with their awareness about Krishi Bhavans. Less than half of AOs and AAs (46.67 per cent each) and majority of Karshika Vikasana Samithy Members (60 per cent) and other farmers (56.67 per cent) were found to have high degree of attitude towards Krishi Bhavans. Job satisfaction and job commitment of AOs and job satisfaction of AAs were found to have positive and significant relationship with their attitude towards Krishi Bhavans. Contact with extension agency, Scientific orientation and awareness about Krishi Bhavans of Karshika Vikasana Samithy Members and contact with extension agency of other farmers were found to have positive and significant relationship with their attitude towards Krishi Bhavans. Lack of clerical support in Krishi Bhavan was the most important constraint perceived by AOs while ‘Lack of facilities in Krishi Bhavans was perceived as the most important constraint by AAs. The five serious constraints identified by Karshika Vikasana Samithy Members and other farmers were high labour cost, conversion of paddy fields into coconut and banana gardens making tiller ploughing difficult lack of irrigation water in time, inadequate and untimely supply of inputs and high cost of cultivation.ThesisItem Open Access Farm telecast viewing behaviour of farmers(Department of Agricultural extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1990) Shahila, Rose J S; KAU; Mohammed, HussainThis study entitled “Farm Telecast Viewing Behaviour of Farmers” was carried out in Nedumangadu Taluk of Trivandrum district with the following objectives: 1. To study the viewing behavior of farmers in relation to the farm telecast 2. To study the preferences of programmes, mode, time and duration of farm telecast by the farmers 3. To find out the factors influencing the viewing behavior of farmers 4. To suggest steps, if any, to improve the farm telecast programme The charecteristics of farmers included in the study were age, educational status, occupation, annual income, social participation, mass media exposure, cosmopoliteness, innovation proneness, scientific orientation, economic motivation and attitude towards Nattinpuram programme. The dependent variable viewing behaviour was measured using the procedure developed for the study. The available measurement techniques and scoring system were used for independent variables such as social participation (Selvakumar, 1988), mass media exposure (Haraprasad, 1983), cosmopoliteness (desai, 1981), innovation proneness (Moulik, 1965), scientific orientation (Supe, 1969) and economic motivation (Moulik, 1965). Age and annual income were taken as such. Attitude towards Nattinpuram programme was measured using the scale developed for the study. Post-viewing behaviour, family viewing behaviour and viewing preference of Nattinpuram programme were measured using the procedure developed for the study. Data were collected from one hundred viewers and twenty seven non-viewers using an interview schedule. Data were analysed using correlation, multiple regression and path analyses. The salient findings of the study are the following: The reasons for not viewing the Nattinpuram programme were lack of time, lack of interest, programme irrelevant and boring to them; affect children’s studies, time not suitable and lack of awareness of the programme. Viewing behaviour of Nattinpuram programme viewers was at a low level. Most of them were occasional viewers. Age, educational status, occupation, annual income, social participation, cosmopoliteness, and economic motivation had no significant relationship with viewing behaviour. Mass media exposure, innovation proneness, scientific orientation and attitude towards Nattinpuram programme were significantly and positively related to viewing behaviour. The results of path analysis indicated variables such as mass media exposure, scientific orientation, and attitudes towards Nattinpuram programme as important in determining the viewing behaviour of the farmers. The respondents post-viewing behaviour was not appreciable. With regard their family viewing behaviour, majority of the family members were occasional viewers of Nattinpuram programme. With regard to programme preference (past), programmes like ‘safe handling of insecticides and pepper day celebration, agricultural development bank, and announcements inviting letters from farmers on their queries were most preferred by them. As regards the future programmes, preference for agricultural programme was the most. The most preferred mode of presentation was demonstration by experts with discussion. The most preffered time of Nattinpuram telecast was from 6.30 to 7.00 pm. The suggestions given by the respondents for improving Nattinpuram telecasts in future were: Inviting farmers in discussion, making the programmes more informative, avoiding the use of technical terms, alternating the programmes in a cyclic rotation and side by side discussion of the traditional methods.
