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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Open Access
Relative involvement of men and women in dairying
(Department of Extension, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1992) Anil, S S; KAU; Pushkaran, P S
The objectives of the study were, to assess the extent of physical involvement and involvement in decision-taking by men and women in dairy management practices, to probe into the influence of women in the adoption of practices, to study the extent of adoption of selected aspects in dairying, the reasons for non-adoption/partial adoption of the practices, if any, to study the influence of selected socio-economic factors on adoption and to reveal the knowledge level of men and women about dairy management practices. The study was conducted among the members of the milk producers' co-operative society, Vilanganoor. The data were collected through personal interview using pre-tested interview schedule. Variables were measured using appropriate scales and suitable statistical tools were used for analysing the data. The study revealed that majority of husbands and wives had medium knowledge level. Husbands had significantly higher knowledge than wives in general even though there was no significant difference in the aspects of feeding, milking and breeding. In the aspects of housing and feeding the physical involvement of wives was significantly higher. In all the other aspects husbands' scores were significantly higher except in the case of milking where there was not much difference. In decision-taking, the husbands had significantly higher involvement in all aspects except feeding and milking. It was also noted that the children had important role in these two aspects in few households. There was a high rate of adoption of practices related to the selected aspects in dairying among the respondents (mean adoption index - 86.037). The physical involvement of women in the adoption and their involvement in decision-taking though not significant in general indicate their fairly good influence in the adoption of dairy husbandry practices. The correlation coefficients worked out revealed that out of the 13 socio-economic factors included in the study, only the land holding, experience in dairying, availability of professional help at farmers' premises and occupation had significant association with adoption. Experience in dairying had significant positive correlation with adoption of scientific selection in the case of husbands. Similarly land holding was positively and significantly associated with adoption of scientific housing. Availability of professional help at farmers' premises was significantly and negatively correlated with adoption of scientific housing, while it had highly significant positive correlation with adoption of scientific treatment. Occupation of husbands and adoption of practices in the aspect of feeding were highly significantly and negatively correlated. Occupation had significant negative correlation with adoption of aspects in general in the case of husbands. Since the value of multiple regression analysis was low no further analysis was done. The major constraints faced by farmers in the adoption of scientific practices were lack of money, high cost of feed, repeat breeding and non-availability of medicines
Open Access
Analysis of animal husbandary information in the farm feature pages of leading malayalam dailies
(Department of Extension, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2000) Sathumadhavan, T P; KAU; Subhadhra, M R
Study was a content analysis of animal husbandry information in farm . feature pages of four Malayalam dailies, namely Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhoorni,. Desabhimani and Deepika, for the period January to December 1999. Variables studied were space provided to different categories of animal husbandry news, modes of presentation, frequency of occurrence of news, seasonality, readability, relevancy and accuracy. Research findings revealed that the studied dailies provided less than one fourth space of farm feature pages for publishing animal husbandry information. Large animal category got more than 50 per cent coverage with three-fourth space occupied by articles on cows. Poultry articles occupied one-fourth space of animal husbandry information of farm feature pages. Where as small animals and pet animals occupied 17 per cent and seven per cent space respectively. News articles occupied maximum column length in all dailies studied. Frequency of occurrence of news articles, illustrations and question answers were found to be more when compared to other modes of presentation. Seasonality studies r.evealed that more than half the number of dairy articles and one eighth of poultry articles were seasonal. Average readability of dairy articles according to Fog index was 5.45 with more reading easiness. More than 50 per cent of dairy articles were found to be relevant. Just above two-third of scientific messages of dairy articles were accurate, whereas accuracy of general articles were found to be nearly 50 per cent.
Open Access
Impact of calf feed subsidy scheme on farm women
(Department of Extension, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Reeja George, Pulinilkunnathil; KAU; Subhadra, M R
The impact of the calf feed subsidy scheme, a continuing dairy development scheme of the Animal Husbandry Department, Kerala, on farm women in terms of behavioural changes in the areas of attitude, knowledge and extent of adoption regarding scientific calf and dairy management practices was assessed. A static group comparison design of research was adopted. The study was carried out in Thrissur district of Kerala state, among 75 each of beneficiary and and non-beneficiary women. The non-beneficiary group served as the control. Comparison was made on 11 variables and since it was required to know differences in the attitude towards scientific calf rearing, knowledge of scientific calf rearing, extent of adoption of calf rearing as well as dairy farming technologies between beneficiary and non-beneficiary groups and since ready to use measuring scales were not available to measure these variables, suitable scales were developed. In general, beneficiary women differed significantly in their attitude, knowledge and extent of adoption of scientific calf rearing and dairy farming technologies indicating the positive impact of the scheme. However certain deficiency areas were identified which need immediate educational intervention. For instance, most beneficiary women did not have correct knowledge regarding early breeding as well as etiology of infertility; two-third' had not adopted these technologies as well. Many of beneficiary women did not have correct knowledge of the schedule of foot and mouth disease vaccination as well as deworming and a majority had either discontinued or not adopted these technologies. Fewer women had correct knowledge of the amounts of green fodder and ration to be fed to heifers, dry animals and those pregnant: adoption of these technologies was substantially low. Knowledge and adoption of the correct procedure of ligation of navel cord was one low. None of the beneficiaries had adopted post milking teat dipping while a few had adopted record keeping. Nearly half of the beneficiaries had not adopted the practice of quick reporting of out breaks and had either not adopted or discontinued technologies pertaining to flooring and drainage in cattle sheds. Two-third had not adopted the practice of culling bull calves at the right time. To make up these deficiencies, intensive extension educational measures are to be organised under the auspices of the scheme. In all such instances, women participatory programs need emphasis. Attitude building exercises, demonstrations etc wherever required should be organised and followed up.
Open Access
Analysis of the human resource development climate prevailing in Kerala agricultural university
(Department of Extension, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Senthilkumar, R; KAU; Rajakamal, P J
The HRD climate prevailing in the Kerala Agricultural University and as perceived by its scientists was studied. In all, 262 scientists from main, regional and remote stations constituted the sample. The HRD climate studied was in terms of 12 major constituent dimensions, viz., management philosophy, training, career planning and development, manpower planning and forecasting, performance appraisal communication, team work, transfer, promotion, rewards and organizational culture. It was seen that organizational culture had been identified as the relatively most dominant dimension of HRD climate followed in that order by teamwork, transfer, management philosophy, communication, career planning and development, placement, rewards, performance appraisal, promotion, training, and manpower planning and forecasting. Manpower planning and forecasting being the weakest dimension need immediate intervention. Besides looking into the strength of various dimensions and components the issue of HRD climate was examined from the angle of the number of scientists perceiving it as favourable, moderately favourable and unfavourable. Considering only the percentage of scientists who perceived the various dimensions to be favourable, the latter were ordered. Accordingly, it was seen that comparatively the highest percentage of scientists perceived the dimension transfer to be favourable followed in that order by teamwork, placement, communication, organizational culture, career planning and development, rewards, manpower planning and forecasting, management philosophy, training, promotion and performance appraisal. Since the percentage of scientists perceiving the HRD dimension, performance appraisal to be favourable was the least, immediate reformative measures are warranted. It was also seen that there was a differential perception of the HRD climate between certain groups. For instance, men and women scientists perceived the HRD climate differently. The scientists of regional and remote stations perceived the HRD climate differently from those of main stations. Similarly, the perception of HRD climate differed between professors and associate professors and between associate professors and assistant professors (S.G). A more comprehensive study on the nature and cause of such perceptual differences is very essential. This shall be an objective of future research.
Open Access
Study of the Traditional Belief System in Dairy Husbandry among Tribals of Attappady
(Department of Extension, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1998) Sunil, G; KAU; AdvisorRajkamal, P J
The imperative of traditional beliefs or indigenous knowledge and its documentation and validation has been a major theme for research quite recently. Tribal societies have nurtured, over centuries, many a beliefs in the field of dairy farming. A study was conducted among the tribal dairy fanners of Attappady block in Palakkad district with the objectives of inventorying the beliefs, determining the strength and rationality of beliefs, knowing the extent of adoption of beliefs etc. Rationality of beliefs was judged by experts identified for the 2ur2ose. A total of seventy three beliefs were studied after categorising them under fourteen domains. Most of the farmers studied were of middle age group, illi terates and by occupation agriculture and other labourers. Majority had a low profile of communication characteristics since mass media exposure, extension agency contact and personal lDcalite exposure were less. There were a little more of weak believers than strong believers of traditional beliefs among them. Further, majority of the respondents had only middle level awareness about trad.it.i.onal beliefs. Among"the highly aware group there were more of strong believers than weak believers. Out of the socio-personal variables studied, age and experience in dairying were positively and significantly correlated with degree of belief and extent of adoption. Out of the psychological variables, man-nature orientation, innovativeness and scientific orientation were negatively and significantly correlated with degree of belief and extent of adoption. Among the communication variables mass media exposure was negatively and highly significantly correlated with degree of belief. All the beliefs studied were found to be strongly held beliefs and one-fourth of all beliefs were irrational. Extent of adoption of all beliefs were measured and it ranged from eighty eight adopters for a belief to twelve for another. The fact that almost one-fourth of all beliefs were irrational is a matter of concern. As practicing of these irrational beliefs could result in non-adoption of modern scientific practices, thereby blocking technology diffusion.
Open Access
Comparative effectiveness of extension communication media used under the dairy development programme and extent of adoption of improved dairy husbandry practices by members of milk cooperatives in selected areas in Trichur taluk
(Department of Extension, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1979) Subhadra, M R; KAU; Nair, G R
The objective of the study were to know the effectiveness of various extension communication media used in dairy development programs for disseminating improved dairy husbandry practices, to measure the extent of adoption of selected improved dairy husbandry practices and to understand the influence of personal and socioeconomic characteristics on the adoption of improved dairy husbandry practices. One hundred members of seven milk supply cooperative socities in ollukara block area were selected for the study. The findings showed that nighberhood and government agencies played dominant roles in diffusing the improved practices concerning dairy husbandry. Among the neighbourhood agencies, milk supply cooperative socities ranked first. Government agencies were found to be effective for influencing the respondents in adoption. Veterinary surgeons were found to be a powerful medium within the government agencies. Thus veterinary surgeons and milk supply cooperative socities accounted very much to the knowledge as well as the adoption of all the practices expect for the practices “clean milk production” which was influenced by mass media. The adoption of practices in the aggregate were not influenced by the nine personal and socio-economic characteristics, viz.,age,education,caste,income, land holding size, farming experience, herd size, social participation and contact with extension agencies. But for some individual practices there was slight significant difference between adopters and non-adaptors. Age, herd size and education seen to have only a very negligible role in the adoption behavior of dairymen, while content with extension agencies appeared to have the largest influence on dairy husbandry practices. It was also observed that among the 10 practices only one practice, viz., “Vaccination against contageous disease“ was not influenced by any one of the nine variable studied.
Open Access
Training needs of farm women of Thrissur taluk in dairy and poultry farming
(Department of Extension, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2004) Durga Rani, V; KAU; Subhadra, M R
The objectives of the study were to analyse the profile of farm women, to assess the training needs and to identify the problems of farm women engaged in dairy and poultry fanning. The data were collected through personal interviews using pre-tested schedule from 120 respondents selected from two development blocks of Thrissur Taluk by multistage sampling. Majority of the farm women were middle aged, married, of medium income group, had long years of fanning experience with small sized herd and medium flock size but had not attended any training in dairy and poultry farming. Their innovation proneness, economic motivation, risk orientation and credit orientation were found to be medium. Nearly half of them were high school educated. Half of the farm women were engaged in house hold work as well as agriculture and allied activities. More than half of them had low level of social participation and extension agency contact but had medium information source utilization and marketing orientation. Out of the five major farm operations' studied in dairy farming, the farm women needed training the most in housing. The minor items preferred the most for knowledge need were proper design of cattle shed, selection of breeds, compounding balanced feed using locally available ingredients, vaccination and banking and insurance. As for skill need, construction of scientific low cost cattle shed, selection of breeds, compounding balanced feed using locally available ingredients, symptoms of common diseases and banking and insurance were preferred the most. In poultry farming, feeding and management was the most preferred major farm operation. The minor items preferred the most for both knowledge and skill training were proper design of poultry shed, selection of eggs for hatching, compounding balanced feed using locally available ingredients, vaccination and banking and insurance. In dairy farming, problems in health care was perceived as the most serious one. Under major farm operations, the most serious problems were inadequate knowledge about scientific housing, repeat breeding in crossbreds, high cost of concentrates, reduction in milk yield due to diseases and low price of milk and milk products. In poultry fanning, farm women perceived problems in feeding and management as the most serious one. Under major farm operations, the most serious problems were inadequate knowledge about low cost scientific cage construction, low hatchability of eggs in summer, problems of predators, losses due to bacterial and viral diseases and financial difficulties.
Open Access
Job performance and job satisfaction of Veterinary personnel in Kerala
(Department of Extension, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1992) Jayachandran, S; KAU; Pushkaran, P S
The present study had the following objectives. 1. To study the level of job performance of Veterinary Personnel in carrying out their official functions. 2. To study the degree of job satisfaction of Veterinary personnel in carrying out their official functions. 3. To identify the constraint factors if any, pertaining to the job satisfaction. 4. To assess the problems and solutions related to the job performance of Veterinary personnel as perceived by them. The study was conducted among the Veterinary Surgeons in the Animal Husbandry Department of Kerala. Stratified random sampling technique was adopted for sample selection with districts as the strata. Mailed questionnaire method with a pre-tested schedule was used for data collection. Data were collected from 131 respondents. Job performance was meausred by self rating technique by the respondents. Job satisfaction was measured using the method developed by Laharia (1978). Simple percentage analysis, correlation and multiple regression analysis were the statistical methods used in the study. In general the respondents belonged to the medium categories with regard to their socio-personal and psychological characteristics and situational factors. Length of service was short for majority of the respondents. Only very few respondents had post-graduation. Regarding technical competence fifty per cent each were in the low and high technical competence group. Most of them had high level of training. Communication ability was of the medium level for majority of them. Social participation and mass media utilisation were of the medium level. Self esteem and level of aspirations were of the medium level for most of them. Organizational commitment, achievement motivation, scientific orientation and self reliance were of the medium level for the majority. Convenience in posting, organizational climate, personal importance, independence in work and job autonomy were moderate for most of them. Majority had medium level of work load.
Open Access
Impact of correspondence course in dairying on adoption of improved dairy practices
(Department Of Extension, College Of Veterinary And Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1987) Ramkumar, S; KAU; Pushkaran, P S
With a view to study the impact of correspondence course dairying on adoption of improved dairy practices, the present study was conducted among 50 respondents scattered all over Kerala out of the 285 participants and 50 non-participants selected on a matched pair basis. The study aimed at measuring the knowledge, attitude, symbolic adoption, and [practice adoption levels of the participants and non-participants with regard to improved dairy practices. The attitude of the respondents was measured using an attitude scale constructed for this purpose. Age, education, annual income , family size, herd size , social participation , economic motivation, scientific orientation, risk preference and cosmo politeness were the independent variable studied in relation to the extent of adoption of the participants. The study revealed that the mean scores obtained by the participants for knowledge, attitude, symbolic adoption, and practice adoption were significantly higher than those obtained by non-participants. Of the eight improved dairy practices, the practices of early breeding of animals, full hand milking and mild antiseptic washing of udder after milking had four percent, 32 per cent and 80 percent non –adopters respectively. There were no non-adopters for the other practices. Un availability of service personnels, lack of service facilities un availability, quality feed at reasonable price, non – availability of vaccines, strenuous nature of practices and more time consumption for adoption of practices were the major reasons attributed to partial and non-adoption of various practices. Of the 10 independent variables, only economic motivation scientific orientation and risk preference of the participants were significantly and positively correlated to the extend of adoption of the participants where as family size was negatively and significantly correlated to the extent of adoption of improved dairy practices, economic motivation and scientific orientation of the participants had maximum direct and indirect effect on extend of practice adoption of improved dairy practices.

Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

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