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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: Anjaly George × Author: KAU × End date: 2017 × Start date: 2017 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Impact of climate change on agroforestry systems of High Range landscapes of Kerala
    (Academy of Climate Change Education and Research Vellanikkara, 2017) Anjaly George; KAU; Shijo Joseph
    Much of rural India, has a majority of its livelihood directly dependent on climate and are highly vulnerable to climate variability, with climatic changes having profound direct and indirect impacts. Apart from the general climate-dependent nature of the economy, the small size of land-holdings of most farmers in high elevations and the large tribal population render the people and the livelihood of these areas highly vulnerable to climate change and variability. Climate change is projected to affect agricultural and natural ecosystems around the world, and there is no reason to expect that agroforestry systems will be spared. This study was done to identify the impact of climate change on agroforestry systems of high range landscapes of Kerala, in particular Wayanad. In this study we employ mixed methods, including remote sensing, semi- structured interviews and statistical techniques to unravel the complex shift in agroforestry systems occurring in Wayanad. The study was done with the compilation of secondary literature on various agroforestry systems in the high range landscapes of Kerala followed by the selection of intensive study area and a detailed socio-economic survey among various stakeholders to understand the patterns, productions and processes of various agroforestry systems in the landscape and climate variables. The quantitative data such as area (in hectares) and production (in tonnes) of major crops over the past two and half decades were obtained from the Agricultural Statistics records of the Department of Economics and Statistics The in situ measured temperature and rainfall data were collected from India Meteorological Department and Regional Agricultural Research Station of the Kerala Agricultural University. Ordinary least square regression equations were fitted in the temperature and rainfall data to analyse the changes in trends. Monthly and annual changes were analyzed to assess the seasonal and overall shifts in rainfall and temperature. Factor analysis based on principal components was used to disentangle the impacts of various drivers in the shifts the agricultural patterns, productions, and processes. The results showed that Wayanad has underwent major changes in the land use in the last two and half decades. Data from Economics and statistics department showed that, the area and production of crops such as arecanut, coconut, rubber and banana increased considerably whereas the area and production of rice, ginger and pepper has declined over the last couple of decades. Variables showed that monsoon rainfall across the district is found to be decreasing over the years, while there is an increase in temperature during the same period. Also, there is a delay in the onset of monsoon and an advance in the offset of monsoon in Wayanad during 1991-2015. The factor analysis indicated four principal components that drives the shifts in the agricultural practices. The first factor explained 25% of the variation, attributed to the market driven shift in agricultural practices . The second principal component explained 18% of the variation driven by the adaptive management strategies of the farmers to maximize the profits on context of absence of labors and less investment and production cost for new crops. The third factor contributed 15% in the overall shift in agricultural practices, and it was driven by the changes in climate. The fourth component was responsible for a shift of 13% in the agricultural practices driven by the expansion of tourism industry in recent times. The study also indicated the out-migration of farmers since 1990s from Wayanad to nearby regions where similar climatic conditions exists in search of better availability of land and water resources, and less cost of cultivation among others. The study conclude that there are changes in pattern, production and processes of agroforestry systems of high range landscapes of Kerala, particularly in Wayanad, and climate change contribute 15% of the shift in agricultural practices. The present study contribute to our existing knowledge on the effect of climate change on crop production and agricultural dynamics, and sheds light into the programs related to the agro-forestry based climate change mitigation where climate variability and other factors need to be accounted before making policy decisions that aimed to mitigate the impact of climate change by means of agroforestry systems.