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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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1992 - 19984
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Subject: Veterinary Extension Education × End date: 1998 × Start date: 1990 ×
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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    ThesisItemOpen 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
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    ThesisItemOpen 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.
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    ThesisItemOpen 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.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Working environment of lady veterinary surgeons of animal husbandry department of Kerala state
    (Department of Extension, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1998) Manjunatha, L; KAU; Subhadra, M R
    The objectives of the study were to understand the working environment of the lady veterinary surgeons and to study the degree of job satisfaction and job commitment of the lady veterinary surgeons. The data were collected from a sample of 75 lady veterinary surgeons of Animal Husbandry Department of Kerala using a pre-tested questionnaire. Among all the eight selected situational factors only age of the youngest child and possession of a vehicle for personal conveyance showed positive and significant correlation with working environment at 10 per cent level. A little above half of the respondents perceived overall working environment as either unfavourable or extremely unfavourable. Out of the 13 dimensions of working environment, the dimension- interpersonal relations was perceived most favourable and was ranked first. It was followed by motivation, team work, client relations, family adjustment, communication, autonomy, people's participation, guidance and supervision, leadership, decision making, organisational policies and services and supplies. Two-third of the lady veterinary surgeons was either somewhat satisfied or satisfied with the job, while the rest one - third was not satisfied. Four dimensions of working environment, namely, organisational policies, autonomy, communication and people's participation contributed significantly to the variation in job satisfaction of the lady veterinary surgeons. Three-fourth of the lady veterinary surgeons was either somewhat committed or highly committed and the rest one-fourth was less committed to the organisation. Only two dimensions of working environment, namely, organisational policies and motivation contributed significantly to the variation in organisational commitment of the lady veterinary surgeons.