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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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1998 - 199912000 - 20021
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Subject: Rural Banking and Finance Management × End date: 2003 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Comparative analysis of the performance of Kerala based banks
    (Department of Rural Banking and Finance Management, College of Co-operation, Banking and Management, Vellanikkara, 2002) Devika Mangsatabam; KAU; Molly Joseph
    The study entitled "A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF KERALA BASED BANKS" was conducted with the following objectives . . i) To analyse the performance of Kerala based public, private and co-operative sector banks. ii) To compare the relative efficiency of these banks and iii) To examine the role of these banks in agricultural lending. The study was conducted in six out of the 10 Kerala based banks comprising of the State Bank of Tranvancore (SBT) and South Malabar Gramin Bank (SMBG) in the public sector, South Indian Bank (SIB), Dhanalakshmi Bank (DB) and Catholic Syrian Bank (CSB) in the private sector, and Kerala State Co- operative Bank (KSCB) in the co-operative sector. The study was conducted for a period of six years from 1994-95 to 1999-00 using mainly secondary data made available from the Annual Reports of the banks concerned. The first and second objectives of analysing the performance of Kerala based public private and co-operative sector banks and comparison of the relative efficiency of these banks have been done by using three models viz., Return On Equity (ROE) Decomposition Analysis, Weighted Productivity Index and Market Share Concept. For -- assessing the efficiency of each bank using the Market Share Concept, data were collected from all the 10 banks. Data pertaining to agricultural lending were also collected from the concerned banks' head office for analysing the third objective. Based on the above indicators, individual performance of the banks were assessed and a Composite Index was developed to rank these banks. The study has revealed that CD ratio has been declining for all the Kerala based banks except SMGB. For all these banks, the rate of increase in advances has not been as high as that of deposits which might be due to diversion of deposits by banks like investment in government and other approved securities, shares and debentures. The analysis of the profitability and productivity of Kerala based banks on the basis of ROE Decomposition Analysis has revealed that KSCB'is the only bank which could not achieve the 16-20 per cent internationally accepted ROE and one per cent ROA. SMGB has performed well showing a continuous increase in ROE and ROA except in 1996-97 when these values were negative due to implementation of NPA norms. When compared to the national average, it was found that the performance of all the Kerala based banks except KSCB was better with respect to the three indicators viz., ROE, ROA and Equity Multiplier (EM). The Profit Margin (PM) of the Kerala based banks except for SMGB has been lower than the industry average which might be due to the fact that their income has been adversely affected by the high interest expended on deposits. The study has also revealed that interest expended on deposits for SMGB has been very low when compared to the other Kerala. based banks since the Bank had other sources of funds like refinance from sponsoring bank and other institutions. The percentage share of Provisions and Contingencies (P&C) to the total revenue has been found to be very low in the case of KSCB and S.rvlGB pointing to the lower NPAs in these two banks. Among the Kerala based banks, only SMGB could achieve the internationally accepted criteria of having a Net Interest Margin (NIM) of three per cent and above. However, the burden of this particular bank has been observed to be very high since its non-interest income is negligible. Analysis based on the Weighted Productivity Index (WPi) has revealed that KSCB achieved the highest performance in Employee Productivity (EPi), while SMGB had the lowest I Employee Productivity (EPi). The low staff productivity of SMGB might be due to drastic increase in wage bill as the implementation of the Award of the National Industrial Tribunal (NIT) gave pay parity in RRBs. The high Capital Productivity (CPi) of SMGB may be attributed to an increase in interest income and reduction in NPAs. The~e has been a general decline in CPi of the private sector banks - DB, SIB and CSB due to the higher provisioning for NP As. The market share of the branches, staff, non-deposit working funds and advances of the six Kerala based banks to the total of 10 banks has declined during the period of study. This may be attributed to the increase in the share of other Kerala based banks not included in the study like Federal Bank, Lord Krishna Bank and N edungadi Bank. The market share of SBT in branches, deposits, non- wage operating expenses and interest spread has declined consistently during the study period reflecting its declining prominence as the premier bank in the State. In the estimation of the efficiency level of Kerala based banks on Market Share Concept, it has been found that KSCB obtained the highest score followed by SBT and DB. SMGB, which had performed well in the other two models, performed the lowest as per this model. This may be attributed to the high share of branches and staff among its inputs factors. Besides fluctuation in output factors like non-interest income and the negative net profits in the 1996-97 have adversely affected its performance. Although the introduction of financial sector reforms has led to decline in priority sector lending in general, the liberalisation of the term 'priority sector' since 1997 has enabled banks to achieve the target of 40 per cent. The actual disbursement of credit to priority by Kerala based banks has never crossed the target of 40 per cent except in the case of SMGB. SMGB is the only bank, which has been increasing its percentage share of lending to the priority sector and agriculture in spite of its increased lending to the Non-Target Group over the years. The computation of the Composite Index to assess the overall performance of Kerala based banks has revealed that SMGB obtained the highest score followed by KSCB. The lower performance of SBT and private sector banks may be attributed to lower ROE, EPi, CPi, and ultimately WPi, lower efficiency based on market share and low share of agricultural advances to total advances. ~
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Savings and investment behaviour of rubber cultivators - a micro level analysis
    (Department of Rural Banking and Finance Management, College of Co-operation Banking and Management, Vellanikkara, 1998) Abhilash, T Gopal; KAU; Padmini, E V K
    The study entitled ‘Savings and Investment Behaviour of Rubber Cultivators- A Micro Level Analysis’ was conducted with the following objectives. To analyse the extent and pattern of savings and investment of rubber cultivators. To examine the factors influencing their savings and investment decisions. The study was confined to the rubber cultivators in Meenachil taluk of Kottayam district. The study period was Sep.1996 to Aug. 1997. The sample frame comprised 150 respondents and the respondents were classified into three groups based on their size of holdings. The groups are S1-below 1 hectare (ha), S2 between 1ha and 2ha and S3 between 2ha and 5 ha. The data collected from 150 respondents were tabulated and analysed. The study revealed that the extent of savings was highest for group S3 followed by group S1 and S2. The results indicate that the cultivation of rubber was the major source of income (almost 75 per cent of total income) in all the three cultivator groups considered for the study. Hence the size of rubber cultivation was the major income side determinant of extent of savings among the sample households. However the rate of savings showed a different pattern. The average propensity to save is lowest in group S2 (23 per cent) and is highest in group S3 (36 per cent) closely followed by group S1 (34 per cent). Though the total amount of expenditure is highest in groupS3, its extent and rate of savings are highest as it has managed a very high amount of net income. Despite having the lowest extent of net income the group S1 has achieved an appreciable rate of savings by controlling their total expenditure. From the responses of the cultivators five items viz. education of the children, ceremonies, putting up houses, saving for emergencies and bequeathing assets to spouses and children were emerged as the principal motivations for saving. The savings was mainly disposed in the form of investments in financial assets. The other major form of disposition of savings was investments in nonincome generating assets like household durables and buildings. Among the financial assets bank deposit was the most preferred option of the respondents and co-operative bank deposits had an edge over others. Rate of return followed by safety and proximity were emerged as major parameters influencing the investment options in financial assets. Investment in non income generating assets was found increasing with the increase in the size of holding. Their personal use apart, status concern and demonstration effect were the prime motivations behind such investment. The study established that though the savings is mainly generated from agriculture sector, (especially from rubber cultivation) such savings are not appropriately ploughed as investment in the same sector. Instead the savings is mainly disposed either as financial assets (a low risk low return option) or as unproductive investments.