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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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Author: Jayachandran, N V × Author: KAU × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Optimization of enterprise combinations with special reference to garden land agriculture
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1985) Jayachandran, N V; KAU; Prabhakaran, T
    This study on optimal enterprise combinations on garden land farms in Kerala was carried out using data collected from sample holdings selected from the ninth ward of Panancherry panchayath under Ollukkara block in Trichur district, through simple random sampling. The 72 holdings that formed the sample were grouped into four categories based on size of garden land holdings. The major constraints identified were land, labour in three seasons viz. June to September, October to December and January to May, irrigation and capital. Banana was identified as the most resource intensive activity followed by arecanut plus pepper. Cocoa was the least labour and capital intensive activity. Net margins calculated per unit of activity indicated that banana had highest net margin in all categories followed by arecanut plus pepper, coconut, cow, tapioca and cocoa in the decreasing order. Optimal plans worked out under existing conditions using linear programming technique for model farms under the four categories of holdings indicated a uniform tendency of increase in area under coconut over the existing plan. Except the optimal plan for the second category, which included arecanut plus pepper also, all other optimal plans had three enterprises viz. coconut, banana and cow. Cocoa and tapioca did not appear in any optimal plan. Maximum increase in net income of 52 per cent was recorded in optimal plan for first category. In other categories the increases were ten per cent in both second and third and nine per cent in the fourth category. Optimal plans resulted in more efficient use of resources. Sensitivity of optimal plans were tested by considering 25 per cent increases in prices of pepper and tapioca. The optimal plans at revised prices indicated decline in area under coconut over optimal plans at original prices in all categories simultaneously followed by appearance of tapioca in the first category and arecanut plus pepper in second, third and fourth categories. Banana was eliminated from second category and cow activity from the third category. Increase in net incomes on revised optimal plans over existing plans worked out to 54 per cent, 20 per cent, 13 per cent and 10 per cent respectively on categories I, II, III and IV.