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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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1985 - 19882
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Author: KAU × Author: Santhosh, P × End date: 1989 × Start date: 1980 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Cost of cultivation and marketing of pepper in Cannanore district
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1985) Santhosh, P; KAU; Narayanan Nair, E R
    The study was based mainly on the data collected from a sample of farmers and market intermediaries in Cannanore district of Kerala during the year 1982-’83. Data for estimating the cost of cultivation were generated from a random sample of 72 farmers, stratified on the basis of size holding. The costs were analysed input wise, operation wise and also based on ABC cost concepts in the aggregate level and stratum level. Capital productivity analysis was also attempted to study the economic feasibility of pepper cultivation. Pepper marketing was studied from the level of producers to the terminal market at Cochin. Price spread was worked out through the method of concurrent margins. Cost of production analysis was carried out both at the aggregate level and at the stratum levels for a period of seven years viz. from planting till the crop attained the stage of yield stabilisation. The annual cost for the seven year period at the aggregate level was found to be Rs.5,605, during the first year, Rs.2,475.06 in the second year, Rs.3,481.80 in the third year, Rs.3,514.48 in the fourth year, Rs.3,992.72 in the fifth year, Rs.4,715.12 in the sixth year and Rs.5,681.68 in the seventh year. In general the most conspicuous cost creating input was human labour while the corresponding operation was intercultural operations. Roughly one-fourth of the total cost was fixed cost and the rental value of the land was the predominant item in this. The cost of cultivation was highest in stratum II and less in stratum I. Analysis of capital productivity revealed that the investment on pepper cultivation had a pay back period of nine years two months and eleven days, benefit-cost ratio of 1.16, Net present worth of Rs. 6,646 and an internal rate of return of 17.22 per cent. The market practices, marketing costs, market structure and price spread were also studied. The marketing channels identified were: 1. Producer → Pre-harvest contractor → Wholesaler →Exporter 2. Producer → Village Merchant → Wholesaler → Exporter 3. Producer → Wholesaler → Exporter 4. Producer → Village Merchant → Commission agent → Wholesaler → Exporter 5. Producer → Commission agent → Wholesaler → Exporter 6. Producer → Village Merchant → Internal wholesaler (Consignment trade) The price spread in these six channels were worked out to be 28 per cent, 17.45 per cent, 12.65 per cent, 18.91 per cent, 14.11 per cent and 14.01 per cent respectively.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Response of two sesamum varieties (Kayamkulam-1 and Surya) to different plant densities and nitrogen levels
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1988) Santhosh, P; KAU; Sasidhar, V K
    An experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1987 to study the influence of 3 plant densities (30 x 15 cm, 30 x 10 cm and 30 x 5 cm) and 4 levels of nitrogen (0,20,40 and 60 kg N/ha) on the growth, yield, oil and protein contents, chemical composition and nutrient uptake pattern of two sesamum vatieties (Kayamkulam -1 and Surya). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with the variety-spacing combinations in the main plots and nitrogen levels in the subplots. The variety Surya recorded higher values for plant height, number of leaves/plant, leaf area index, drymater production, seed yield, stover yield, number of capsules/plant, capsule length, number of seeds/capsule, 1000 seed weight, harvest index, oil and protein contents of seeds, nitrogen and phosphorus contents and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake. Plant spacing of 10 cm resulted in maximum height. Number of leaves/plant, number of branches/plant, number of capsules/plant, number of seeds/capsule and harvest index were significantly reduced under close planting. Leaf area index, drymatter production, stover yield and the uptake of nutrients increased with close planting. Surya recorded significantly higher seed yield under 10 cm spacing. No significant differences was observed between 15 and 10 cm spacings with respect to seed yield of Kayamkulam -1 Spacing 0f 5 cm reduced the protein content of seeds. Close planting decreased the nitrogen, Phosphorus and potassium contents of plants. Plant height, number of leaves/plant, number of branches/plant, leaf area index, drymatter production, number of capsules/plant, number of seeds/capsule and stover yield increased upto 60 kg N/ha. Both the varieties recorded significantly higher seed yield with 60 kg N/ha. Capsule length and 1000 seed weight were increased only up to 20 and 40 kg N/ha respectively. Nitrogen application beyond 20 kg/ha increased the harvest index up to 60 kg/ha. Applied nitrogen significantly influenced the oil and protein contents of seeds up to 40 kg/ha. The uptake of all the nutrients and the nitrogen and phosphorus contents of plant were significantly influenced by applied nitrogen.