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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: Others × Author: KAU × Author: Sukanya, K S × End date: 2017 × Start date: 2017 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Impact of projected climate change on cropping pattern of different agro ecological units of southern Kerala
    (Acadamy of Climate Change Education and Research Vellanikkara, 2017) Sukanya, K S; KAU; Sunil, K M
    Climate change poses an emerging threat to sustainability of social and economic development, livelihoods, and environmental management across the globe. Characterization of the ecosystems using the AEZ concept is a good decision making approach for variety of farming activities performed by the farmers and is a useful tool for the studying the impact of climate change. The objectives of this study are (1) to study rainfall variability and to determine water availability periods of Agro ecological units of southern Kerala under different climate change scenarios. (2) To study the impact of projected climate change on cropping pattern, crop calendar and the possible changes in the water requirements of major cropping systems prevailed in the various Agro ecological Units of southern Kerala. Daily rainfall data for the period 1991-2014 were collected from the India Meteorological Department, Thiruvananthapurm. Weather cock v.1.5 was used for converting the daily weather data into standard week, month and seasonal formats. It is also used to compute PET and Thornthwaite water balances. CROPWAT model was used for the calculations of crop evapotranspiration, crop water requirements and irrigation requirements for the development of irrigation schedules under various management conditions and scheme water supply. The annual rainfall availability in most of the AEUs of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts show a decreasing trend in the projected climate and an increasing trend in Idukki, Kottayam and Alappuzha. The number of annual rainy days generally shows a decreasing trend. The seasonal rainfall of southwest and summer monsoon will show an increase from the current situation where as northeast monsoon and winter will have a decreasing trend. In projected climate of both RCP 4.5 and 8.5 there will be high probability of having reduction in the number of months having the surplus and an increase in the number of deficit. The crop evapotranspiration values of rice based cropping system will show a tendency to increase. In perennial cropping systems of coconut based and rubber the projected crop evapotranspiration will have a reduction from the present situation whereas in coffee based cropping system the ETc will have an increasing trend. The irrigation requirement of all the major cropping systems will increase from the present situation except in the case of rice-fallow-fallow. The length of growing period of the cropping season in the major rice growing areas of different AEUs are getting shorter with slight differences among various agro-ecological units, implying a higher risk of operating under projected climate as per RCP 4.5. The sowing date will be delayed up to three to five weeks. It can be also observed that the crops will have to suffer water stress during the grain filling stage and will be under heavy rains at time of harvest in almost all the considered cases.