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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: Sapna, K Rani × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2007 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Futures trading in pepper
    (College of Co-operation Banking Management, 2008) Sapna, K Rani; KAU; Molly, Joseph
    The study on “Futures trading in Pepper” has been conducted with the main objectives of analyzing price discovery mechanism of pepper futures in NMCE and examining the benefits of futures trading in pepper to farmers and traders. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. The first objective of analyzing the price discovery mechanism of pepper futures was done using secondary data on daily futures and spot prices from May 2003 to March 2008 of NMCE. For examining the benefits of futures trading in pepper to farmers and traders, primary data were collected from sample farmers and traders by means of a structured interview schedule. Two districts of Kerala, namely, Ernakulam and Wayanad were selected to identify the farmers and traders respectively, for collecting information regarding the benefits derived from futures trading. From each of the two districts of Ernakulam and Wayanad, 30 respondents were selected to analyze the benefits of futures trading in pepper to farmers and traders. These respondents were classified as trading farmer, non - trading farmers and non- farmer traders. The data collected have been processed using MS – Excel sheets. Co-integration technique, Kendall’s Co-efficient of Concordance, Mann Whitney U Test, Student’s t – Test, Compound Annual Growth Rate and annual growth rate were used to analyse the data. An analysis of trend of futures and spot prices of pepper has revealed the efficiency of the price discovery mechanism of pepper futures. The spot and futures prices under the study period showed an increasing trend. As spot price is always below the futures price there is opportunity for hedging. Both the spot and futures prices are moving more or less in the same direction. Since the trend lines are very closely moving, it implies that the two prices are highly related and prediction of one using the other is possible. To analyse price discovery mechanism of pepper futures Co-integration technique was used. Futures prices prior to three months (F3), four months (F4) and five months (F5) prior to delivery are closer to the spot price. This also brought to light the efficiency of the co integration technique in identifying the movement of two variables in the same direction. The advantages of online trading to different group of traders in the pepper futures by means of Kendall’s co-efficient of concordance outlined increased trade volume, increasing liquidity in trading and better terminal facility as the most preferred advantages for the farmer traders of Wayanad. For the non farmer traders, easy settlement, increased number of participants and time saving are of importance, while increased liquidity is of least advantage to them. As far as the traders of Ernakulam are concerned, increase in liquidity in trading, increased trade volume and time saving are the most available advantages to the non farmer traders, while price discovery seemed to be the least available advantage for them. Pair wise comparison of benefits of futures trading to various groups of respondents by means Mann-Whitney U test revealed that there is significant difference between the traders and farmers with respect to the extent of benefits of futures trading enjoyed by them. It is also proved that there is no significant difference between the different categories of traders, irrespective of whether they are farmers or hill produce merchants or exporters or speculators. The criterion for enjoying the benefits is not whether the trader is a farmer or a non farmer, but whether he trades in futures or not. 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 more 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. Also co-operative marketing societies in the field of spice market should be strengthened to give farmers benefits of remunerative prices through large scale marketing and processing.