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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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2006 - 20083
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Subject: Agricultural Marketing and Co-operation × Author: KAU × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2000 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Group marketing system for fruits and vegetables in Kerala
    (Department of Rural Marketing Management, College of Co operation and Banking Management, Vellanikkara, 2007) Bibin, Mohan; KAU; Philip, Sabu
    The study entitled “Group marketing system for Fruits and vegetables in Kerala” was undertaken with the following objectives: To analyse the marketing behaviour of commercial fruits and vegetables farmers and to evaluate the structure, conduct and performance of Swasraya Karshaka Samithies (SKSs) promoted by Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council, Keralam (VFPCK). The study was conducted in Thrissur and Palakkad districts which accounted for the largest volume of business through SKSs. Commercial farmers and traders of fruits and vegetables constituted the population of the study. For the study, five SKSs were selected from each district randomly. From the area of operation of each SKS, ten member farmers who marketed their produce through SKS and five farmers who marketed their produce otherwise were selected randomly to constitute the sample of farmers. Similarly five traders selected from each SKS constituted the sample of traders. Data were collected from the sources through personal interview method by administering separate pre-tested structured schedules to farmers and traders. The data thus obtained were analysed by using bivariate tables, percentages, satisfaction indices, and ranking. Analysis of the socio-economic profile of the farmers revealed that older generation are more interested in farming than younger generation. The analysis also brought out the predominance of men in agriculture, and they possessed vast experience in farming. The results indicate that marginal and small holdings dominate the agricultural sector in the study area. Analysis of the annual income of the farmers showed that the number of farmers with an annual income of Rs.1,00,000 and above was higher among SKS farmers than Non-SKS farmers. The share of income from fruits and vegetables in the total agricultural income was higher for SKS farmers. ‘Better price for the produce’ followed by regular market for the produce, ‘better measurement and grading practices in the market’, ‘feeling of farmers own organisation’ were the most important reasons for farmers to take membership in SKS. Regarding the ownership pattern of cropped land of the farmers, the share of farmers cultivating on leased land was more among the SKS farmers than Non-SKS farmers. The SKS also attracted farmers with larger area under fruits and vegetables cultivation to its fold. The selected farmers depended more on man made sources of water than natural sources for irrigation and the majority of the farmers used either electric pump or diesel pump for irrigation. Majority of the SKS farmers preferred VFPCK as the main source of seeds for cowpea, bittergourd and amaranthus. In the case of nendran the most preferred source of suckers was traders. When the Non-SKS farmers preferred own sources and fellow farmers for the purpose. The main source of suckers of nendran was traders. Analysis of the different varieties of crops preferred by farmers revealed that in the case of nendran farmers in general preferred Mettupalayam, Kottayam and Manjeri varieties. In the case of cowpea Lola was the most preferred of SKS farmers and Non-SKS farmers preferred Lola, Local and Vyjayanthi varieties. Regarding bittergourd when SKS farmers showed a strong preference towards Preethi, Non-SKS farmers mostly preferred Local variety. Arun was the most preferred variety of amaranthus SKS farmers and Kannara Local by Non-SKS farmers. In the case of ivy gourd majority of SKS farmers preferred Sulabha variety while Non-SKS farmers preferred Local variety. The main sources of planting material for farmers were VFPCK, KAU, traders and fellow farmers. KAU was the only institutional agency which supplied all types of planting materials. Out of the four sources of planting materials, KAU was the dearest and VFPCK the cheapest. Majority of the SKS farmers availed credit from commercial banks linked to SKS when majority of the Non-SKS farmers preferred money lenders and traders for their credit needs. The SKS farmers harvested nendran coinciding with the SKS market days. Cowpea, bittergourd and ivy gourd were harvested thrice a week by majority of the SKS farmers. Vast majority of Non-SKS farmers harvested nendran weekly. Majority of the Non-SKS farmers harvested cowpea and amaranthus thrice in a week. In the case of bitter gourd and ivy gourd majority harvested two days in a week. SKS was the prime source of market information to SKS farmers while traders constituted the main source of information to Non-SKS farmers. The SKS farmers were better placed with regard to scientific marketing practices. All the produces except amaranthus and cowpea were graded and sold in SKS. Only nendran and bitter gourd were graded in Non-SKS market. Majority of the SKS farmers used plantation leaves for packing nendran. Plastic bags were used for packing other crops. Majority of the farmers in Non-SKS markets marketed nendran without packing. The main reason for selling the produce outside the SKS market was farm gate collection by the traders. The important means of transportation for SKS farmers was tailed autorikshaw and head load for majority of Non-SKS farmers. Price fluctuation was the only one risk perceived by SKS farmers, while the Non-SKS farmers perceived the risk of unsold produce, physical damage, and default in payment besides price fluctuation. In order to manage the price risk a majority of the SKS farmers sold the produce to the same trader even at a lower price when Non-SKS market sold to other traders. Regarding the realization of credit sales, 90 per cent of the SKS farmers received payment within a week while majority of the Non-SKS farmers received payment within two weeks. Lack of adequate processing and storage facilities were reported as the most serious problems faced by the commercial fruits and vegetables farmers. The SKS farmers were found better trained than Non-SKS farmers. While analyzing the structure of SKS market, it was found that majority of the sample traders were wholesalers. Majority of them had more than five years experience in fruits and vegetables trade. Majority of them had more than five years experience with the SKS. Regarding the admission in SKS, vast majority of the traders found the rules simple. Seasonality analysis of the market for the selected crops disclosed that the farmers especially nendran farmers realized the best price during Onam season as demand outstripped the supply during the season. The SKS market exhibited conditions of ‘slightly concentrated oligopsony’. Market power concentration analysis showed that in Elevenchery, Pariyaram and Thottipal the market power was highly concentrated in top four traders compared to other SKSs.. However the market power was less concentrated in top four traders in markets like Kottayi, Kanjirapuzha, Viyyakurishi and Pazhayannur. Conduct of the SKS market revealed that majority of the traders waited till the close of the market to buy the produce at a lower price as the price used to cool down towards the end of the market. The purchased produce were fed by the traders to the end markets situated far and wide from the SKS. Majority of the traders operated in more than one market. Regarding the management of price risk the traders signed forward contracts with their retailers and regulated their purchase from SKS according to the price and quantity contracted with their customers. The Marketing Efficiency Index for all the selected crops except bittergourd was the highest in SKS market compared to other markets as the marketing cost was the lowest in the SKS market. The farmers were ‘highly satisfied’ and the traders were ‘highly satisfied’ with the working of the SKS market. The VFPCK, through its group based production and marketing approach has been able to give a fillip to the vegetable and fruit cultivation in Kerala. The Swasraya Karshaka Samithies (SKSs) promoted VFPCK have enabled the farmers to enhance their production and productivity through scientific cultivation practices. The SKS market owned and operated by the farmers have enabled the farmers to realise better price for their produce by setting up best trade practices and price discovering mechanism.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Response behaviour towards branded agro-processed products
    (Department of Co- operative Management, College of Co- operation, Banking and Management, Vellanikkara, 2006) Prameela, V; KAU; Sakeer Husain, A
    The study entitled “Response behaviour towards branded agro-processed products’ was undertaken with the following objectives: 1. To examine the response behaviour towards selected branded agro-processed products (BAPs) 2. To identify the factors influencing purchase decision and consumer choice 3. To compare the response behaviour towards BAPs of co-operative and private sectors The study was conducted in six wards of Kannur Municipality. From each of the selected wards, twenty five household consumers of the five selected BAPs viz., sambar powder, meat masala, rasam powder, pickle and jam were selected. Thus a total of 150 household consumers constituted the sample of the study. The study was based on primary data collected with the help of structured pre-tested interview schedule. Percentage, index, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and Friedman test were the major statistical tools used for analysis. The study revealed that cent percent of the respondents consumed sambar powder and pickle while majority of them consumed meat masala (96.67%), jam (90.67%) and rasam powder (86.67%). Among the respondents, majority purchased packed branded items. ‘Easy availability’ and ‘convenience’ were the major reasons for the use of the selected BAPs. ‘Dinesh’ was the most known brand among the respondents in the case of all selected BAPs. Advertisement in the electronic media was the major source of awareness about the selected BAPs. ‘Super market’ was preferred by the respondents as the major source of purchase. ‘Dinesh’ was the major brand preferred and used by the respondents in the case of curry powder and pickle, while ‘Happy’ was the most preferred and used brand in the case of jam. ‘Brand loyalty’ was found to be very high among the users of the selected BAPs. ‘Belief in the quality of the products’ supplied by the store was the main reason found for the store loyalty of the consumers. ‘Product features’ and ‘advertisement’ were the important factors that influenced the purchased decision of all the BAPs. ‘Taste’ and ‘freshness’ were the important product features that influenced consumer choice. No significant difference was found between the co-operative and private brands of selected BAPs with regard to factors and product features influencing purchase decision and consumer choice. Any way the consumers were more satisfied with ‘availability’ and ‘quality’ of the products of co-operative and ‘availability’ and ‘taste’ of the products of private organizations. In general consumers were satisfied with the products supplied by both co-operative and private organizations. However, the selected BAPs of co-operative organizations were found to be comparatively better when compared with private products except in the case of jam.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    SHG-Bank linkage programme - a study in Thrissur district
    (Department of Rural Banking and Finance Management, College of Co-operation Banking and Management, Vellanikkara, 2008) Vijitha, V N; KAU; Molly, Joseph
    Self Help Groups have been recognized by the policy makers as an effective tool for accomplishing the distributional objectives of monetary policy. The SHG model with bank lending to groups of poor women without collateral has become an accepted part of rural finance. With over 11 million poor households accessing banking services including micro credit through their 29,24,973 SHGs, the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme led by NABARD in India claims to be the largest and fastest growing micro finance programme in the world. The study entitled “SHG – Bank Linkage Programme: A study in Thrissur District” has been undertaken with the objectives of analyzing the level and pattern of utilization of bank finance by the Self Help Group and their members under the SHG- Bank Linkage Programme; to identify the constraints, if any, in the SHG – Bank Linkage Programme: and to make a bank-wise and spatial comparison of the SHG- Bank linkage Programme. Both primary and secondary data have been used for the study. Primary data have been collected from 30 SHGs and 90 members from the three models of SHGs functioning in Thrissur district. Percentages, averages, T- test, Shannon Weaver Diversity Index and ANOVA have been used for the analysis of the data collected. The study has revealed that the average loan amount per member / household is as high as Rs. 15100/- in the case of the SHGs selected, while the national average is only Rs. 2025/-. There is cent per cent utilization of loans of banks by the SHGs and their members. In aggregate, more than 50 per cent of the loans enjoyed by SHG members are utilized for consumption purposes. But when a comparison of the SHGs under different models are considered, it is seen that two – third of the loans of SHGs which are promoted and financed by banks are given for income generating purposes. The least share for income generating activities is from the members of SHGs which are promoted by NGOs. A tendency among SHGs to lend their funds at high rate of interest to outsiders was noticed. This would further bring down the involvement of members in income generating activities in the future. The development of caste and community based sub groups within the SHGs is an undesirable development which has been noticed during the study. The problem of decreasing productive activities was noted, which in future might lead to low repayments. Kendall’s Co-efficient of Concordance has proved that there is perfect agreement among the fifteen banks that ranked the twelve constraints of SHG – Bank Linkage Programme. There is a positive growth in the SHG-Bank linkage programme in the entire six regions taken under consideration. The trend in the physical and financial performance of SHG-Bank linkage programme is positive in all the regions except the central region where adequate up scaling measures are taken by NABARD. Shannon Weaver Diversity Index computed for loan per SHG under the different regions revealed that there was an increased tendency for a uniform disbursal of the loan amount over the three models. The study has brought out the increasing significance of this informal system of financing to bring the poor and unbankable within the reach of a formal banking system. Efforts from the promoters, banks, NABARD and other agencies involved in the promotion and development of SHGs can definitely take our Self Help Groups and their member beneficiaries to still further heights in the future.