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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: Soil Sciences × Author: Binoy Cherian, T Kau × Start date: 1981 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Environmental planning of two selected river basins of western ghats based on investigations on land use planning and land capabilities
    (Department of soil science and agricultural chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1987) Binoy Cherian, T Kau; Aiyer, R S
    Rapidly changing socio economic structure puts tremendous pressure on human society to find additional resources for its sustenance. Indiscriminate exploitation of the natural resource with scarce concern for the ecological balance has caused disturbances and sometimes total destruction of important portions of the biosphere with immediate or delayed effects being evidenced on a global scale. Land and soil are not resources that are infinite and cannot be exploited for ever. This fragile epidermis of the earths crust is severely affected due to drastic changes in vegetation cover resulting in destruction of soils and losses of nutrients and fertility. The quality and quantity of terrestrial biosphere depends on the soil and land. For studying the extent and state of an environmental impact a well defined natural unit has to be selected. Being a natural physical system where the land and water act as definite determinants of land use, and since it is a well defined natural unit, river basins were chosen as the units for study. The sub water sheds and micro water sheds are the accepted units for ecodevelopment planning. There is a need for detailed studies in natural and agroeco systems in different water sheds in relation to the physical features of the land and soil characteristics. Such studies are required to plan microlevel aspects of eco restoration, and eco development of water sheds especially in Kerala where environmental degradation has reached alarming proportions. The main objectives of the work is as follows: 1. A study of the sub water sheds of Bharathapuzha and Aralampuzha for relief, morphology, drainage, geology, vegetation, climate, soil and land use. 2. A land capability assessment of both the river basins based on details soil studies and traversing of the area. 3. To evolve a set of recommendations for management of the two river basins. The basic approach in the present study is to investigate individual components and bring out their relationship with present land use, that would help to maintain the ecological balance while sustaining human needs. For this two river basins Mangalam-Gayatripuzha and Aralam-Bavalipuzha were selected. The former highly influenced by man and the latter relatively less interfered were chosen for making a comparative study. Environmental components like relief, slope, morphology, drainage, geology, vegetation, climate and soil have been analysed by using standard methodology with respect to individual variables. On the basis of these studies land capability was assessed for each geomorphic unit and the present land use was also studied. Finally a set of recommendations were evolved for the judicious use of each geomorphic unit. With minimum degradation to it. From the study it was found that the Mangalam-Gayatripuzha basin has a mature landscape in comparison with Aralam-Bavalipuzha basin with more diverse geomorphic units. The soil is mainly alluvial in Mangalam-Gayatripuzha basin whereas it is lateritic in Aralam-Bavalipuzha basin. Soil fertility is moderate with no marked variation in both cases. High population density, smaller land holdings and low per capita income have put the land to great stress. Ecologically viable land use based on land capability has become subservient to subsistence land use. Food crops dominate the agricultural scenary in the Mangalam-Gayatripuzha basin whereas cash crops take more area in the Aralam-Bavalipuzha basin. Both the basins are suspectible to erosion and this has been aggravated by large scale deforestation and cultivation of tuber crops on the hill sides. On the basis of these findings it is recommend that deforestation should be completely stopped and afforestation programmes expedited in order to conserve the ecology of both basins. Soil conservation measures should be taken up on a war footing in the Aralam-Bavalipuzha basin with the entire cost borne by the government. Comprehensive programmes must be formulated to bring the catchment of the rivers under good perennial tree and fodder vegetation. Tapioca cultivation requiring greater tillage on slopes should be discouraged or prohibited. A detailed land capability assessment based on natural land use determinates should be worked out for the two basins since large section of the people in the hilly areas are poor with no alternative means of subsistence. Imaginative hill slope agricultural programmes that guarantee subsistence for these people should be evolved.