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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: Pooja Krishna, J × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2019 × Thesis Type: M.B.A. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Social discrimination of tribal agricultural labourers in wayanad district:
    (Department of Agricultural Extentsion , College of Agriculture,Vellayani, 2019) Pooja Krishna, J; KAU; Anil Kumar, A
    The study entitled ‘Social discrimination of tribal agricultural labourers in Wayanad district: A critical gender analysis’ was conducted at Mananthavady block of Wayanad district during the year 2017-19. The study was conducted among three tribal communities viz, Kattunaikan, Paniyar and Kurichiyar. The objective of the research was to study the social discrimination experienced by the tribal agricultural labourers, to assess the extent of usefulness of developmental programmes as perceived by tribal agricultural labourers and also their profile characteristics. From each community, 30 male and 30 female tribal agricultural labourers were randomly selected, totaling the sample size to 180. While considering social discrimination, 80 per cent of men and 90 per cent of women experienced a high order of social discrimination and 18.89 per cent of men and 10 per cent of women experienced medium level of social discrimination. Only 1.11 per cent of males experienced low social discrimination. Women experienced a higher scale of social discrimination than men. Among communities, Kattunaikans experienced a higher order of social discrimination, when compared to Paniyan and Kurichiyan respondents, owing to their poor economic status and spatial isolation. The major significant factors that negatively influenced social discrimination were annual income, wage, social participation, health and nutrition, access to common property resources and political orientation. Other than the above, self- confidence was observed to be negatively significant to social discrimination in the case of men, whereas, land alienation, educational status, migration and awareness negatively influenced social discrimination experienced by women tribal agricultural labourers. In the case of perception of extent of usefulness of developmental programmes, officials had a higher level of perception, while the tribal communities had a lower perception. Low level of perception was observed among men (68.89%) and women (77.78%), while, only 31.11 per cent of men and 22.22 per cent of women had medium to high perception. Among the communities, Kattunaikans had a low level of perception of usefulness of developmental programmes than Paniyas and Kurichiyas, majorily contributed by their low awareness and social interaction. The major influencing factors for perception of usefulness of developmental programmes were annual income, wage, political orientation and awareness about the development programmes. Other than the above, self- confidence was found to have significant negative influence on perception in the case of men, whereas, educational status, exposure to mass media and social participation negatively influenced in the case of only women. Profile characteristics of the respondents in the study areas were collected and analysed. More than half of the respondents (58.33%), irrespective of the gender and community, were under middle-age category. Kurichiyas had better education than Paniyas and Kattunaikans and among men and women, women lagged behind in education. Majority of the tribal agricultural labourers earned low to medium wages (82%) and annual income (81%), while women got lower wage (60%) and annual income (84.44%). Kurichiyas owned more land than Paniyas, while, Kattunaikans owned no land. Men owned more land than women. High extent of land alienation was observed among men (90%) and women (93.33%). Kattunaikans and Paniyas incurred debt almost entirely for non-productive purposes, while, Kurichiyas borrowed mainly for farm purposes. While alcoholism and smoking were issues among the males, betel use was common among both men and women. Comparatively high extent of daily migration was observed among men for job, while majority of the women were permanent migrants owing to dependency movement. Low order of mass media exposure (87.22%), social participation (84.58%), self-confidence (98.89%), health and nutrition (91%), political orientation (59.89%) and awareness about development programmes (90.5%) were observed among the tribal agricultural labourers; especially among women. From the findings, it was concluded that, majority of the tribal agricultural labourers experienced a higher order of social discrimination. Perception of extent of usefulness of developmental programmes was found to be lower for tribal agricultural labourers. Among the communities, Kattunaikans experienced a higher scale of social discrimination, while they possessed a lower level of perception. Most importantly, strict gender disparity could be identified, where women experienced a higher order of social discrimination than men. Women were also observed to have a lower level of perception than men. High social discrimination and low perception resulted in the lower socio-economic status of women than men. The government should take steps towards developmental activities in all tribal settlements, in consensus with the tribal representatives. It must also be ensured that the benefits of these development projects reach the intended population.