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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: Rural Banking and Finance Management × Author: Anu, S Nair × Start date: 2007 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Commodity futures - A study of online trading in rubber
    (Department of Rural Banking and Finance Management, College of Co operation and Management, Vellanikkara, 2007) Anu, S Nair; KAU; Padmini, E V K
    The present study entitled “COMMODITY FUTURES A STUDY OF ONLINE TRADING IN RUBBER” was conducted with the following objectives. 1) To examine the price movements of rubber futures through National Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd. (NMCE). 2) To assess the impact of futures trading on farming decisions of rubber farmers; and 3) To identify the determinants of online trading by rubber farmers. Primary and secondary data have been used for the study. Daily data of rubber futures in NMCE and the corresponding spot prices were collected from the website of NMCE. The data regarding the area production, yield, export, import, major producing countries and major consuming countries were collected from the souvenir of publications of Rubber Board, Economic Survey and website of tire review. Primary data to analyse the impact of futures trading and to identify the determinants were collected using a structured interview schedule. The sample respondents constituted 33 trading farmers from the districts of Kottayam, Palakkad and Thrissur and another group of 33 non-trading farmers from the district of Kottayam. The trend in area production, and yield were analysed using compound growth rate and percentage change over the previous year. The compound growth rate of area under rubber is found to be 8.2 per cent during the period 1950-51 to 2004-05. Although in absolute terms production has been increasing, there has been a decreasing trend since 1999-2000 till 2001-02. The compound growth rate of production comes to 16.36 per cent. The productivity of natural rubber recorded a continuous growth over the period except in 1999-2000 to 2001-02. The compound growth rate for yield works out to 7.47 per cent. A look into the global natural rubber scenario revealed that Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia are the leading producers and they together constitute about 77 per cent of the global production. India is the fourth largest producer and consumer of natural rubber. China tops the list of consuming countries. The major exporters are Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia and the major importers are China, USA and Japan. The analysis of the commodity derivatives market in India revealed that out of the three National Commodity Exchanges, National Multi Commodity exchange is the first exchange. All these three exchanges are multi commodity exchanges. The commodity exchanges are regulated by forward markets commission which is coming under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, food and nutrition. To analyse the objective of examining the price movements of rubber futures through NMCE the co-integration technique is used. The results revealed that the futures prices of two months prior to delivery (F2) one month prior to delivery (F1) and delivery month (F0) are efficient in predicting the spot prices of rubber and prediction using futures price three months prior to delivery (F3) is not effective. The impact of futures trading on the farm management practices of the rubber farmers were analysed using simple percentages and averages. The study revealed that there is no change in any of the activity undertaken by the rubber farmers before and after commencement of futures trading. The non-trading farmers are enjoying the economics of large scale operations. Also the only positive change of the futures trading is their awareness about the storing facilities available at Central Warehousing Corporation eventhough they are not using that facility. The influence of private traders in marketing the product is as high as Rubber co-operative Marketing Society and Rubber Producers Society. No exploitation was faced by any of the farmers as they are educated farming community having better bargaining power. The futures trading could not make a considerable impact on the farming decisions of rubber farmers because they are not at all interested in delivery and so they are least bothered about the underlying asset. They consider futures trading as an avenue for speculation where they can bet on the price movements. For identifying the determinants of online trading by rubber farmers, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance was applied. Accessibility to trading terminal, awareness creation and computer literacy were found the most important determinants of futures trading. There are some differences in the ranks assigned by trading and non-trading members. Availability of warehousing facility, procedure formalities and speculative nature were found least important determinants. Starting of terminal outlets in remote areas, extensive campaign for awareness creation about futures trading and computer education to remove the aversion towards screen based trading will attract move number of participants to futures trading. Compulsory delivery of the underlying asset is to be enforced by the regulatory authorities to make the real farmers the beneficiaries of futures trading and thereby ensuring a remunerative price.