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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 Job efficiency of panchayat level agricultural officers of department of agriculture in Kerala(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1993) Mothilal Nehru, S; Thyagarajan Nair, GThe study aimed to examine the job efficiency of Agricultural Officers of State Department of Agriculture. The study was conducted in three Agro climatic zones of Kerala State covering six districts, two each from the zones. The selected districts were Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur. From each district, one agricultural sub – division was randomly selected. Finally 154 Agricultural Officers were selected for the main study and analysis and interpretation were carried out with the responses obtained from 115 respondents. The job efficiency was measured with the help of a scale developed for the study and rated by the Assistant Directors of the selected Agricultural Officers. BARS technique was used to develop the job efficiency scale. A pilot study was conducted to screen independent variables and finally ten personal and situational related variables were selected. Data were collected through structured interview schedule and mailed questionnaire. The job dimension identified empirically were ‘planning’, ‘coordination’, ‘human relation’, office management’, ‘professional competency’ and ‘farmer development’. In general, more than half of the Agricultural officers had high job efficiency. Similarly, in the case of job dimensions majority of them fall under the category of high group except ‘office management’ dimension. There was no significant difference between overall job efficiency of the Agricultural officers among the three zones. At the same time, there was significant difference among the Agricultural Officers of the zone in the job dimensions namely, ‘coordination’, ‘office management’ and ‘professional competency’. The personal and situational related variables namely, attitude towards profession, self confidence, intrinsic motivation, job satisfaction, job involvement, technical competency, communication behaviour, organizational climate, guidance and supervision and facilities and resources put together contributed significantly to the efficiency of Agricultural Officers and explained 77 per cent of the variation in job efficiency. The best sub - set of variables for predicting the variation in job efficiency were communication behaviour, technical competency and self confidence. The ‘communication behaviour’ and ‘technical competency’ were the two variables influencing all the job efficiency dimensions to a substantial extent. Next to these two variables, ‘self confidence’ was found to be influencing all the dimensions except ‘human relation,. The variables like ‘organisational climate’, attitude towards profession’, ‘intrinsic motivation’ were also found to be important in this respect. The major constraints perceived by the Agricultural Officers were ‘more number of programmes’, ‘lack of sufficient knowledge about programmes of sister departments’, ‘lack of sufficient knowledge on personnel management’, ‘inadequate office facilities’, ‘lack of skill oriented trainings on viable technology’ and ‘administrative delay in disbursing subsidies and other benefits to farmers’.ThesisItem Open Access Vocational higher secondary education in agriculture in Kerala - a multimidensional analysis(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1993) Kumari Sushama, N P; KAU; Thyagarajan Nair, GThe study aimed at analysing the various dimensions of vocational Higher Secondary Education in Agriculture (VHSEA) in Kerala and to suggest a model for strengthening the same. The study was undertaken in nine VHSEA schools spread over eight districts in Kerala, where the scheme was first introduced in 1983-84 and where VHSEA courses are still being offered. There were 300 student-respondents for the study, viz. 150 respondents who have passed VHSEA from these nine schools during 1986-87, 1987-88 & 1988-89 and 50 each of VHSEA students undergoing PP,F & V and NM & OG courses in these schools at the time of the investigation, selected using probability proportion to size-random sampling. Besides, all the available teachers of VHSEA numbering 36 and 60 randomly selected experts from the State Department of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University and the Directorate of VHSE also formed the other categories of respondents for the study. The dependent variables were the student-respondents’ knowledge about the subject matter of the VHSEA Courses, attitude towards VHSEA programme, attitude towards scientific agriculture and evaluate perception of VHSE courses in agriculture. These variables were quantified using standardized measurement devices developed for the study. Ten independent variables were selected and quantified with the help of available procedures. Vocational interest areas, vertical mobility and employment status and factors affecting vertical mobility and employment status were also collected from the student-respondents. Data on the evaluative perception of VHSE courses in agriculture, evaluation of VHSEA syllabi and factors affecting vertical mobility and employability were gathered from the teachers of VHSEA and the experts. Constraints in and suggestions for improvement of VHSEA were also collected from the students and teachers of VHSEA. Pre-tested and structured interview schedules/questionnaires were used for data collection. The study revealed that majority of the student – respondents hailed from rural areas with agricultural background, they had secured low marks in SSLC/VHSEA and their family educational status and economic status were poor. Majority of them had high level of aspiration, and a sizeable number did not have financial support for starting self employment ventures. Majority of the student-respondents had only medium level of knowledge and favourable attitude towards VHSEA programme and scientific agriculture. Majority of the respondents had rated the VHSE courses in agriculture as ‘moderate’ the independent variable significantly influencing the dependent variables in general were marks obtained in SSLC, caste, family economic status, family educational status, level of aspiration (past, present and future) and finance for self employment. Commercial flower production and general agriculture were the most preferred vocational interest areas. Half of the VHSEA certificate holders were studying in degree classes and more than one fourth of them were not continuing their studies. Majority of the VHSEA certificate holders were unemployed. Over six per cent of them were working as Lab assistants and only two respondents were engaged in self employment avenues. Interest in higher education, job opportunities due to higher qualification and attitude towards higher education were the most important factors influencing their vertical mobility while awareness about the avenues for self employment, skill training for doing self employment and interest in taking up self employment were the most important factors influencing their employability. The teachers and experts in general rated the VHSEA as moderate. Low standard of pupils, lack of library facilities, lack of building facilities and lack of facilities for doing practicals were the most important constraints. Permanent teachers should be employed, scholarships and grants should be provided, provision for higher education, job opportunities to the pass outs and public should be made aware of the relevance of the VHSEA were the important suggestions for improvement of VHSEA. Based on the results of the study, a model to strengthen VHSEA in Kerala is suggested.ThesisItem Open Access Adoption of farm implements by the rice farmers of Kerala(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1993) Ahamed, P; KAU; Tampi, A MThesisItem 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 Fertiliser use behaviour of rice farmers of Kerala(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1993) Geethakutty, P S; KAU; Menon, A G GThe study was conducted with the main objective of developing an index for measuring the fertilizer use behaviour of rice farmers. A total of 300 rice farmers were selected following multistage random sampling procedure, 60 from each District, so selected that each District represented one NARP Zone. Besides farmer respondents, 40 agricultural scientists, 40 agricultural extension personnel and 40 input dealers were also selected as other categories of respondents for the study. The Composite Fertiliser Use Behaviour Index (CFUBI) was developed by identifying six dimensions of fertilizer/ manure use for rice, (quantity, time of application, split application, type, method of application and related management practices). The weightages of the identified six dimensions were obtained through judges’ rating and also through the relevancy rating of the practices under the identified dimensions. The CFUBI derived by the formula method was compared with the index developed by the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method. Based on relevancy rating and pilot study, 17 behavioural characteristics were selected as independent variables. The variables were quantified using standardized procedures. Mean and percentage analysis, Delinious Hodges Cumulative Root ‘f’ stratification, Critical difference, Coefficient of variation analysis of variance, kendall’s coefficient of concordance, Chi – square analysis, Correlation analysis, Multiple regression analysis and Principal Component Analysis were the statistical tools used for data analysis. The study revealed that more than 60 per cent of rice farmers were under ‘good’ and ‘satisfactory’ categories based on their CFUBI. The NARP Central Zone had highest percentage of farmers under ‘good’ category of CFUBI, while the Problem Zone had the highest percentage of farmers with regard to the use of nitrogenous, phosphatic and potassic fertilizers. The High Range Zone had the highest percentage of farmers with respect to the use of organic manures. Based on the use of nitrogenous and phsphatic fertilizers, majority of the farmers were categorized under either ‘good’ or ‘satisfactory’ category, while with respect to the use of potassic fertilisers, it was found that farmers were almost similarly distributed under ‘good’, ‘satisfactory’, ‘poor’ and very poor’ categories. The Problem zone and Northern zone were found to be ‘very poor’ with respect to the use behaviour of organic manures and potassic fertilisers respectively. There was significant difference among the five NARP Zones in respect of the different dimensions of use of nitrogenous, phosphatic and potassic fertilizers and organic manures. The use behaviour of potassic fertilisers had the highest factor loadings in explaining variability in the CFUBI of farmers followed by the use behaviour of nitrogenous fertilisers. Split application of nitrogenous fertilisers, quantity and time of application of phosphatic fertilisers, quantity and split application of potassic fertilisers and quantity of organic manures were found significant in predicting the AYI of farmers. The behavioural characteristics of farmers found to be significant in predicting the fertiliser use behaviour of rice farmers were main occupation, level of aspiration, rational decision making ability, attitude towards fertiliser use, information source utilisation and economic performance index. The important technological and situational factors contributing to fertiliser use hehaviour as perceived by the farmers, extension personnel, scientists and input dealers were irrigation facilities, perceived appearance of crop stand, drainage facilities, price of produce, availability of rain and availability of labour. Lack of knowledge about fertiliser use, lack of assured irrigation facilities, high cost of fertilizers, high rate of labour wages, increased incidence of pests and diseases, non availability of organic manures and improper drainage facilities were the major constraints in the composite fertilizer use behaviour of rice farmers in Kerala.ThesisItem Open Access Group management in rice production an action research(Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1992) Mohammed Hussain, M; KAU; Menon, A G GThe study “Group management in rice production – an action research” was conducted in Punchakari of Kalliyoor Panchayat, Trivandrum. The study was aimed at to analyse reasons for the success or failure of earlier group approaches and also to analyse the constraints in increasing rice production. It was planned to develop and implement an action programme to overcome the identified constraints through group management. 34 farmers in an area of 10 acres were selected for the study. The research design followed in this action research study was that of ‘before and after experiment’ type, in which the experiment had the respondent’s participation in planning, implementing and evaluation and with an action research component of utilizing the results of the study for further refinement of the group management approach through continuous monitoring and evaluation of the entire programme. A suitable technology package was identified to overcome the selected constraints and introduced in the study area. The impact of the action programme on the selected socio psychological and economic variables was closely monitored and evaluated. The most important reasons for the failure of earlier group approaches were : ‘the political system does not permit’, /group approach ‘possible only when there is continuous leadership’, ‘group approach dies out when external leadership is withdrawn’, ‘no knowledge about group-mamagement’, ‘farmers are not co-operative’, ‘heterogenous group members are more in villages’, ‘no proper machinery to popularize group management’, less scope for unanimous decision’, ‘no proper extension guidance’, ‘no proper guidance from Government side’, ‘inadequate number of voluntary organisations’, ‘public involvement is less’. The nature of content reflected in the results on the constraints in increasing rice production were : ‘non availability of inputs’, ‘high cost of inputs’, ‘incidence of pests and diseases’, labour related problems’, ‘marketing’, ‘drainage’, and ‘lack of technical advice’. There was a significant change on the favourable side in the use of information sources by the respondents exposed to group management approach. The changes brought in the adoption of package of practices through group management approach were significant. Group management approach had brought in favourable changes in the character of social participation of respondents. Group management approach had played a vital role in enhancing the knowledge level about high yielding varieties of rice cultivations. There occurred a gradual but a favourable improvement in the cosmopoliteness of the respondents over group management approach period. There was a significant favourable change in the extension orientation of respondents through group-management. The respondents in the study area had changed significantly with regard to their management orientation due to group management efforts. Group management approach had influenced the attitude of respondents favourably towards it. The group cohesiveness was improved among the members of farmers as a result of group activities. There was a positive significant relationship developed between the yield obtained by the respondents and group management efforts. The net income from rice cultivation was increased considerably due to continuous exposure to group management approaches. There was marked significant reduction in the cost of cultivation of rice noticed for all the operations selected for/the study except harvesting over the four crop seasons as a result of group management. However a slight increase in the cost of cultivation of different operations noticed other than transplanting and manures and manuring during the follow up crop season when the Researcher’s supervision was withdrawn. The extension method, field visit was preferred much for all the package of practices of high yielding varieties of rice cultivated in the study area. Farmer’s training, group discussion and individual contact were found to be preferred next best in their sequence during the post exposure periods of group management approaches.
