Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

20025
Reset filters
Subject: Agricultural Extension × End date: 2002 × Start date: 2002 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Rice seed production and distribution strategies in Palakkad district
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 2002) Jinesh Jills, George; KAU; Ahamed, P
    The present study on Palakkad rice seed system was basically aimed at understanding farmer-preferred varieties and attributes, the constraints to rice seed production and distribution at sub system level, public sector rice seed production status of the district for five consecutive years (1996-'97 to 2000-'01) and streamline a seed system strategy for Palakkad district. PRAIPLA investigations were conducted in ten ADBs (except Mannarkad and Agali) with 330 farmers (FSS), 41 AOs/AAs (ESS), 20 farm officials from the SSFs (SISS) and the rice researchers (RSS) of central zone as the respondents of the study. The analyses of data elicited through matrix ranking exercises was done using special 'preferential indices' developed namely MRI, VRI, ARI, CRI, MSAI. The results of the study confirmed the existence of a large number of rice varieties/cultivars (54 nos) raised in diverse agro climatic and micro-farming situations. Three unique systems apart from the traditional virippu and mundakan, namely Koottumundakan, Karingora and Poonthalpadams were identified. The major crop establishment system for virippu and mundakan were dry sowing and transplantation respectively. There was a huge gap in the demand and supply of quality rice seed facilitated by the SSFs, RARS, Pattambi, NSC unit, Alathur and RSGP. Together they accounted only for around five per cent of the rice seed requirement of the district. According to the latest estimates (2000-2001), 94.70 per cent of the rice seeds were farmer-produced, 1.51 per cent was contributed by SSFs, 0.66 per cent by RARS, Pattambi, 1.98 per cent by the NSC unit, Alathur and 1.15 per cent by RSGP. The 34 farmer-preferred rice varietal attributes were classified into eight categories namely, traits related to grain quality, multiple adaptability, pest/disease tolerance, straw quality, traits related to harvest and post harvest operations and traits related to inputs. The constraints to rice seed production and distribution at the various stakeholder systems (FSS, ESS, SISS and RSS) were classified into eight categories namely input constraints, socio-economic constraints, infra structural constraints, technological constraints extension and policy constraints, biological constraints, information constraints and psychological constraints. The constraints to the evolution and spread of rice varieties perceived by the RSS of the district were categorized into research, production and extension and policy constraints. Comparison of the FSS and the ESS of Palakkad district on the ranking of rice varieties, varietal traits and prioritization of farmers' constraints to rice seed production and distribution revealed that there was significant disagreement between the two sub systems, on the ranking of both virippu and mundakan varieties, while their perception on preferred varietal traits and farmers' constraints were more or less similar. Results of the study indicate the need for decentralized participatory rice varietal selection coupled with community level seed production, to tackle the inadequacies and problems of Palakkad rice seed system. Hence, a decentralized participatory nee varietal selection and seed production model was prepared for Palakkad district.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Women entrepreneurs in agri-business
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 2002) Sindhu Narayanan, S; KAU; Geethakutty, P S
    The study "Women entrepreneurs in agri business" was undertaken in Kozhikode, Thrissur and Palakkad District of Kerala to understand the profile of women entrepreneurs in agribusiness, the push and pull factors of women entrepreneurship, the major problems perceived by women entrepreneurs and to measure their level of success. The sample selected for the study was 60 women entrepreneurs (20 from each district). The entrepreneurs were classified based on the products and services-into seven major typologies as traditional, innovative, on-farm, off- farm, on-farm cum off-farm, formal and informal enterprises. The food industry and floriculture were the major areas of agri business in which large number of women entrepreneurs were engaged. The profile of women entrepreneurs revealed that 50 per cent of the respondents entered business at the age of 31 to 40 years. Majority of respondents were married with nuclear family and most of them possessed medium level of entrepreneurial traits. Support from family and group members, support from developmental institutions, extent of media utilization, training received for enterprise management and labour relationship along with motivational factors such as need for independence, earning money/ income, recognition in society and need to do something new etc., acted as push or pull factors depending on the profile of respondents. The most important problem perceived by women entrepreneurs was lack of timely finance. The high cost of raw materials and low price received for the final product were also major issues. The study revealed that majority of respondents had medium to high level of success in their respective fields. This was measured using Entrepreneurial Success Index (ESI) developed for the purpose, with eight dimensions viz., profitability, social recognition, consumer satisfaction, produce/brand recognition, employee's satisfaction, quality of produce, capacity utilization and diversification. Detailed case studies of selected six successful women entrepreneurs belonging to different typologies revealed the interacting factors of entrepreneurial management. Lack of technical knowhow and managerial capacity were observed to hinder the women entrepreneurs from reaching high levels of success in their respective fields. The study drew attention to the need for target oriented, and strategic entrepreneurial training programmes to promote entrepreneurial capacity building, among rural women of Kerala.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Role of labour force (thozhil sena) in agricultural development implemented through people's plan in Kerala
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2002) Geetha, Nath G; KAU; Prakash, R
    The study entitled "Role of labour force (Thozhil Sena) in agricultural development implemented through people's plan was undertaken to study the structure, function and role of Thozhil Sena. It was also aimed to study the employment generation and income generation due to the implementation of Thozhil Sena, to study the attitude and perception of its members and farmers towards it and to identify the constraints as perceived by the members/officials/people' s representatives.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Performance and potential of gramasabhas in crop production in Athiyanoor block of Thiruvananthapuram district
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2002) Beena, S; KAU; Sherief, A K
    The study entitled 'Performance and potential of gramasabhas in crop production. in Athiyanoor block of Thiruvananthapuram district was undertaken to study the effectiveness, attitude and perception and to identify the constraints as perceived by the farmers, officials and people's representatives regarding the functioning of gramasabhas. The study was conducted in Venganoor, Vizhinjam, Athiyanoor and Kottukal panchayats of Athiyanoor block. A sample of 200 respondents were selected using multistage random sampling technique. Data were collected through well structured and pre-tested interview schedule. Sixty per cent of the farmers, fifty five per cent of the officials and sixty per cent of the people's representatives perceive the gramasabhas as effective in planning and implanting agricultural development programmes. Regarding the attitude towards gramasabhas, 58.43 per cent of the farmers and 87.50 per cent of the people's representatives possessed a very favourable attitude. Among the officials, 65 per cent were favourable towards gramasabhas. Eighty per cent of the people's representatives had very good perception about the functioning of gramasabhas. The study revealed that 57.50 per cent of the officials and 61.67 per cent of the farmers belonged to high group with respect to perception. Majority of the farmers had education upto high school level with farming as the main occupation. Most of the farmers expressed a high level of political orientation, cosmopoliteness, social participation and extension participation. Information source utilisation and orientation of the farmers towards incentives were also found to be high for majority of the respondents. Personal, socio-psychological variables viz., education, political orientation, cosmopoliteness, social participation, information source utilisation, leadership propensity, attitude towards people's plan and orientation towards incentives had shown a positive and significant relationship with effectiveness. Annual income had negatively significant relationship with effectiveness. Education, main occupation, political orientation, social participation, attitude towards people's plan, economic motivation and orientation towards incentives had shown a positive and significant relation with attitude of the farmers towards gramasabhas. Annual income was found to be negatively correlated with attitude. Education, main occupation, political orientation, social participation, attitude towards people's plan, economic motivation and orientation towards incentives had shown a 'positively significant relationship with perception of the farmers about. the functioning of gramasabhas. Annual income had negatively significant relation with perception. Venganoor and Kottukal panchayats differed significantly with respect to leadership propensity. The respondents of Venganoor panchayat had high level of leadership propensity as compared to those in Kottukal panchayat. Venganoor and Kottukal panchayats differed significantly with respect to perceived effectiveness. The respondents in Venganoor panchayat perceived the gramasabhas as highly effective in planning and implementing agricultural development progarammes. There was no significant difference among Venganoor, Vizhinjam, Athiyanoor and Kottukal panchayats with respect to attitude and perception about the gramasabhas. The officials and the people's representatives exhibited non- significant relationship regarding the perceived effectiveness of gramasabhas in planning and implementing agricultural development programmes. . As far as attitude towards gramasabhas is concerned, the officials and the people's representatives differed significantly. It was observed that the people's representatives had a more favourable attitude towards gramasabhas than the officials. Significant difference was observed between the officials and the people's representatives regarding the perception about the functioning of gramasabhas. As compared to officials, people's representatives possessed a better perception about the functioning of gramasabhas. Lack of active group discussions was perceived as the most important constraint by the farmers, officials and people's representatives.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Adaptation behaviour of vegetable growers in crisis situations
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2002) Boban Paul; KAU; Jose Joseph
    Kerala, the green stretch, in the south west cost of India, is delineated from other states by Western Ghats stretching around six hundred kilometers of its Eastern boundary. These hill ranges creates an exclusive climatic conditions in this land. The soil and whether factors have lead to diversity of plant population and also the crops cultivated here. Like other states of India, the crop loss and consequent economic crises occur in Kerala farming also. However the root causes of the crises are different here compared to other states. There it happens as a results of flood, droughts and storms where in Kerala the economic loss results mainly from pest and disease incidence, land slides etc. Kerala is well known for the production of spices and plantation crops. In last two or three decades the commercial cultivation of vegetables also was started in the state. Still a major portion of state's requirement of vegetables are met by products from neighbouring states. The government through its Department of Agriculture and the Vegetable and Fruits Promotion Council of Kerala are trying to increase vegetable production in the state. It was in this context, the present study was undertaken with the objectives such as identifying the different crisis situations encountered by commercial vegetable growers, identifying the methods of adaptation in these crisis situations, rationality behind those methods of adaptation and finally the perception of commercial vegetable growers about the external intervention of developmental agencies in crisis situation. The study was conducted in Ernakulam district which was a traditional vegetable growing area. More over the activities of Department of Agriculture and vegetable and fruits promotion council of Kerala was in progress for the promotion of vegetable production. A two stage sampling technique was used to select three panchayats for the selection of respondents. From the selected panchayat fifty vegetable growers each were randomly identified and they formed the respondents. Data were collected with the help of a pretested and well structured interview schedule. The crops selected were Bitter gourd (Momordica), Snake gourd (Trichosanthus anguina), Oriental pickling melon (Cucumis melo), Ash gourd (Benincasa hespida), Cowpea (Vigna anguiculata var. sesquipedalis). Data was collected classifying crop wise and season wise. The data regarding methods of adaptation were delineated as anticipatory measures, measures for mitigation and contingent measures. The rationality of the methods of adaptation was studied by the rating from three groups of respondents which included scientist, extension personnel and progressive farmers. An index was developed for measuring the level of adaptation. The salient findings are as follows: The commonly adopted anticipatory measures by farmers to insulate themselves from the impact of a possible economic loss were mixed cropping in vegetables, crop diversification with perennial crops, crop rotation with seasonal crops, crop diversification in annual crops, vocational diversification by other enterprises, vocational diversification by other jobs, adjusting planting time to get yield during high demand season and minimising hired labour by employing maximum family labour. The measures taken by the majority of farmers for mitigating the impact of an already occurred economic loss in a crisis were compensating for the loss with the profit from other crops, loan renewal, obtaining new loans on land and gold mortgage and government subsidies. The unexpected price fall was tackled by the contingent measure of pooling the produce from neighbouring farmers and transporting to distant markets. Majority of the respondents reported that VFPCK was intervening in the crisis situations. Only a minor section of respondents reported that Department of agriculture was making interventions. With regard to effectiveness of interventions majority were of the opinion that both the agencies mentioned above were effective in making interventions. With regard to the level of adaptation, majority of the respondent belonged to the category of medium level of adaptation.