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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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Subject: Climate Change Adaptation × Author: Adeena Vijay × End date: 2018 × Start date: 2018 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Socio economic analysis of effects of meteorological drought on rice cultivation in Palakkad district
    (Academy of Climate Change Education and Research, Vellanikkara, 2018) Adeena Vijay; KAU; Chitra Parayil
    Climate change is the major concern of mankind in the 21st century. Under changing climatic scenario, crop failures, reduction in yield, reduction in quality and increasing pest and disease problems are common and they render the cultivation unprofitable. Climate change has both direct and indirect effects on agriculture productivity including changing rainfall pattern, drought, flood, pest and disease outbreaks, etc. The impact of drought can be categorized into physical, economic and environmental. The present study was undertaken with the objectives viz., to analyse the nature and extent of drought in Palakkad district; to study the economic costs of drought on rice in the district; to determine the coping mechanism followed by farmers and recommended by extension functionaries to withstand drought. As per the study objectives, the rice growing farmers (100 no’s) were required to be selected from 5 panchayats. The panchayats were selected based on the area affected by drought. An equal number of farmers who did not suffer losses and suffer losses from drought were also selected randomly from each panchayat for the study purpose. Data were collected in line with the objectives using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. In this study, the main focus is on the meteorological drought. According to the Agriculture department, Palakkad district experienced meteorological drought situation during the year 2016-17. During 2016-17, Palakkad experienced a large reduction in the rainfall received and observed a higher atmospheric temperature. In 2016-17, Palakkad experienced extreme shortage of rainfall (1334.74 mm), which is less than the state average. The cost of cultivation was found that Rs. 54956 ha-1. Hired labour cost accounts for a major share in the total cost of production followed by machine charge, fertilizer and manure charge, seed charge and other expenses. It was found that the cost of cultivation was higher for small (Rs. 81443 ha-1) farmer compared to marginal (Rs. 51103 ha-1) and large (Rs. 44670 ha-1) farmer. Small farmers were suffered more financial loss due to drought. Around 49.09 per cent of yield reduction and 43.6 per cent of financial loss occurred. Regression analysis showed that the most significant variables which contributed to the yield were human labour and machine labour. Technical efficiency analysis showed that the input efficiency of drought affectedfarmers was lower than the unaffected farmers and was found as 51 per cent. This shows that the farmer has a scope for improving the use of inputs like, fertilizer, human labour and machine labour. Irrigation is the one of the most important coping strategy adopted by the farmer followed by using short duration varieties, adjusting the sowing time, insuring the farm against risk and reducing the usage of fertilizer. Thus, it can be concluded that the occurrence of drought, severely affected the farmers’ economic condition. It was found that the small farmers suffered most compared to marginal and large farmers in terms of financial loss.Climate change is the major concern of mankind in the 21st century. Under changing climatic scenario, crop failures, reduction in yield, reduction in quality and increasing pest and disease problems are common and they render the cultivation unprofitable. Climate change has both direct and indirect effects on agriculture productivity including changing rainfall pattern, drought, flood, pest and disease outbreaks, etc. The impact of drought can be categorized into physical, economic and environmental. The present study was undertaken with the objectives viz., to analyse the nature and extent of drought in Palakkad district; to study the economic costs of drought on rice in the district; to determine the coping mechanism followed by farmers and recommended by extension functionaries to withstand drought. As per the study objectives, the rice growing farmers (100 no’s) were required to be selected from 5 panchayats. The panchayats were selected based on the area affected by drought. An equal number of farmers who did not suffer losses and suffer losses from drought were also selected randomly from each panchayat for the study purpose. Data were collected in line with the objectives using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. In this study, the main focus is on the meteorological drought. According to the Agriculture department, Palakkad district experienced meteorological drought situation during the year 2016-17. During 2016-17, Palakkad experienced a large reduction in the rainfall received and observed a higher atmospheric temperature. In 2016-17, Palakkad experienced extreme shortage of rainfall (1334.74 mm), which is less than the state average. The cost of cultivation was found that Rs. 54956 ha-1. Hired labour cost accounts for a major share in the total cost of production followed by machine charge, fertilizer and manure charge, seed charge and other expenses. It was found that the cost of cultivation was higher for small (Rs. 81443 ha-1) farmer compared to marginal (Rs. 51103 ha-1) and large (Rs. 44670 ha-1) farmer. Small farmers were suffered more financial loss due to drought. Around 49.09 per cent of yield reduction and 43.6 per cent of financial loss occurred. Regression analysis showed that the most significant variables which contributed to the yield were human labour and machine labour. Technical efficiency analysis showed that the input efficiency of drought affected farmers was lower than the unaffected farmers and was found as 51 per cent. This shows that the farmer has a scope for improving the use of inputs like, fertilizer, human labour and machine labour. Irrigation is the one of the most important coping strategy adopted by the farmer followed by using short duration varieties, adjusting the sowing time, insuring the farm against risk and reducing the usage of fertilizer. Thus, it can be concluded that the occurrence of drought, severely affected the farmers’ economic condition. It was found that the small farmers suffered most compared to marginal and large farmers in terms of financial loss.