Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

20141
Reset filters
Author: KAU × Author: Sreelakshmi, C C × End date: 2020 × Start date: 2010 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Impact of institutional interventions for promotion of rice farming in Thrissur district
    (Department of rural banking and finance management, College of cooperation, banking and management, Vellanikkara, 2014) Sreelakshmi, C C; KAU; Molly Joseph
    Institution is an effective instrument for economic development. Rice being the staple food of Kerala and rice farming as the livelihood of sizeable number of people, deteriorating rice cultivation demands immediate state intervention. Institutional support system for input supply, production process and marketing can positively promote and protect rice farming. The study entitled ‗Impact of institutional interventions for promotion of rice farming in Thrissur District‘ was conducted with the objectives of (a) examining the developmental programmes/ schemes of various governmental and other institutions for the promotion of rice farming in Kerala, (b) analysing the impact of developmental schemes of various institutions on the net income of the farmers and (c) analysing the constraints of rice farmers so as to suggest policy measures for the promotion of rice farming. Ninety respondents consisting of 30 each from three panchayats of Thrissur district viz., Pazhayannur, Adat and Mundathikode were selected as the sample size through multi stage random sampling method. Data were collected through pre-tested structured interview schedule. The critical variables of the study were the institutions and their schemes, various assistance to rice farmers, demographic details of respondents, volume and cost of cultivation, net income, sources and uses of credit, marketing agencies for rice procurement and constraints of rice farming. The major statistical tools used for the study were Chi-square test, Paired t-test, ANOVA test, Post-hoc test for multiple comparison, Cobb-Douglas production function and Mann-Whitney U test. Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), New York coordinate and cooperate with various countries to promote rice farming at the international level. International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the most important rice development institution under CGIAR. Department of Agriculture under Government of India is the pivotal, around which the whole national programmes for rice farming revolves especially Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) with components of High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, fertilisers and other assistance to paddy development. Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, has contributed remarkably to HYV seeds in rice in the country. Commercial banks have immensely supported the voluminous credit needs of rice farming in the country, especially through Kisan Credit Cards and Interest Subvention Schemes. At the state level, institutions working for rice farming are State Department of Agriculture, Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (SUPPLYCO), Co-operative banks and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy is operated through SUPPLYCO. Cooperatives, in addition to the programmes of State/ local governments, have their own schemes for rice farmers. KAU is a premier institution for rice farmers in the State. Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and Krishi Bhavans are also important institutions engaged in rice development. Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) is a major non - governmental agency involved in promoting rice farming. Second objective of the study is to measure the impact of institutional interventions on net income of farmers by supporting production, credit and marketing activities. All the respondents availed assistance under RKVY and Sustainable Development of Rice (SDR) schemes for seeds, fertiliser, training and information. It is found that seed component of SDR and RKVY made positive shift among rice farmers to HYVs in cultivation. Paired t-test was employed to analyse the impact of seed subsidy, which is statistically significant at five per cent level. Cobb-Douglas production function used for analysis with gross income as dependent variable and seed, labour, fertiliser and herbicide as independent variables, observed that labour and seeds are important determinants of income. It implies that seed subsidy has promoted rice production. Private agencies like money lenders are also prominent among rice farmers. Commercial banks are found to be providing higher per capita credit to farmers in all the three study areas. Cobb-Douglas production model was fitted by taking total production as a function of Gross Cropped Area and credit. It was noted that credit is a highly significant determinant in production. With respect to marketing, MSP gave confidence to farmers to produce by ensured procurement price and also by stabilising the open market prices. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare farmers marketing to SUPPLYCO for MSP and to private agencies. Significant difference was found between income of farmers who are supplying their produce to SUPPLYCO and that of supplying to private agencies. Open ended questions were administered to respondents to analyse the third objective of constraints in rice farming. The responses were classified into four categories, viz., (a) production, (b) finance, (c) marketing and (d) institutional constraints. . Lack of availability of skilled labourers, high wage levels and attack of pests and diseases are the most important production problems. Inclusion of rice farming operations under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) can reduce the problem of availability of labour and high wage levels. Adoption and practice of IPM techniques can reduce the major production problems of pests, diseases and weed. Lack of availability of timely and adequate credit is the major financial constraint faced by the farmers. Provision of timely interest free loans and interest subsidies, in adequate amounts will attract more farmers to rice farming. In marketing, delay in realisation of cash from sale proceeds to SUPPLYCO is the important problem, which leads to delayed repayment of credit from private agencies at exhorbitant rate of interest. If the system of ‗linking of credit with marketing‘ followed by Adat Service Co-operative Bank is replicated to the other areas, this problem can be solved to a large extent. The convergence of all subsidies for rice cultivation and strengthening of existing paddy development agencies can reduce the institutional constraints. The study reveals that higher positive institutional interventions has led to increase in productivity, reduction in cost of cultivation, increase in net income and easy accessibility to subsidies, interest free loans and marketing facilities, as evident in the case of Adat Service Co-operative Bank. Institutions are instruments of growth. Institutional interventions to support farmers by ways of seed subsidy, MSP and interest subvention have been found to be influencing the net income of farmers positively. The support system has also protected and promoted not only the production and product price but instilled confidence in the minds of farmers and insulated the market against uncertainty. Hence institutions are inalienable input to inspire and insulate the economy. But existing constraints in rice farming showed there are miles to go to provide economic independence to rice farmers.