AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN KERALA

Agricultural education in Kerala had a modest beginning, when the erstwhile princely State of Travancore (now forming part of Kerala) started a Demonstration Farm at Karamana in Thiruvananthapuram district, way back in 1896 to impart training on ‘modern’ agricultural practices. Later on, agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school (1922) and intermediate (1953) classes. Nevertheless, no significant headway was made, until 1955, when the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin established two colleges (one each for Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences) respectively at Vellayani, in Thiruvananthapuram district, and Mannuthy, in Thrissur district. Agricultural education in the state gained further momentum with the commencement of post-graduate programmes leading to MSc (Ag), M.V.Sc. and PhD degrees in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively.   The Randhawa Committee constituted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Second Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari had  recommended the setting up of state agricultural universities (SAU) in each state of our country. However, it was only during the second phase an Agricultural University was established in Kerala.  The Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24 February 1971 as per the KAU Act (Act 33, 1971 of the Kerala State Legislative Assembly), and started functional during 1972.

Establishment of the University represents a significant milestone in the state’s agricultural education and research. As soon as the University was formed, the Agricultural College and Research Institute, which was earlier affiliated to the University of Kerala and the Veterinary College and Research Institute affiliated to the University of Calicut were transferred to KAU. In addition, twenty-one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations functioning under the State Government were also handed over to the University.

A few more educational institutions were established by KAU in due course. These include eight colleges and several research stations/extension units. Of these, the College of Horticulture at Vellanikkara was established in 1972 in view of the rising importance of horticultural and plantation crops in the state’s economy. Another college was started to cater to the needs of fisheries and aquatic resources sector in the state. The Rural Institute at Tavanur, Malappuram district, started during the time of British was taken over by KAU in 1975; initially known as Institute for Agricultural Technology (IAT), it was eventually upgraded as Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology. Also, a college for Co-operation and Banking was started at the KAU main campus (which was re-named subsequently as College of Co-operation, Banking and Management) to fulfil the professional training requirements in the state’s cooperative sector ,  agricultural finance, marketing etc.

Considering the need of the nation for trained manpower in forestry, and especially in forest management, as suggested by ICAR, the University started College of Forestry, in the main campus at Vellanikkara, Thrissur district.

To provide for the growing educational/training needs in the dairying sector, a College of Dairy Science and Technology also was established. Recently one more agricultural college was established at Padanakkad (Kasaragod district) and a veterinary college at  Pookode (Wayanad district), to address the regional needs and aspirations of North Malabar, the relatively less developed northern part of the state.

During 2010 the University was divided and two new Universities viz. Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies were established. As a result some of the colleges and research institutes were shifted to the new Universities.

The Kerala Agricultural University is mandated to provide the technology and  Human Resources for the scientific improvement of agriculture in the State. It is actively involved in Agricultural education , research and extension for past half a century. Significant reforms are made in the teaching and training programmes in the University to improve the quality of graduates,  to suite the changing needs of the state as well as the emerging global - technological and market changes. The education programmes are reformed to include more practical component and entrepreneurship training  in priority areas.  .

No.of  Faculties          (Two)  :   1. Agriculture    

               2. Agricultural Engineering

Colleges under Faculty of Agriculture :  

i.    College of Agriculture , Vellayani, Trivandrum (Estd. 1955)

ii.   College of Horticulture, Main Campus , Vellanikkara, Thrissur (Estd. 1972)

iii.  College of Agriculture, Padannakad, Kasargod (Estd. 1994)

iv.  College of Forestry, Main Campus , Vellanikkara, Thrissur (Estd. 1986)

v.   College of Co-operation , Banking and Management,  Main Campus,   Vellanikkara, Thrissur (Estd. 1981)

vi.   Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology,  Tavanur, Malappuram (Estd. 1975, Formerly Rural Institute, Tavanur, started in 1963)

 Statutory Departments   Under the Faculty of Agriculture

    Statutory Departments   Under the Faculty of Agrl. Engineering & Technology

 7. Academic programmes offered                          

Faculty of Agrl. Engineering & Technology

 New generation courses offered 

Organisational set up

Vice-Chancellor is the principal executive and academic head exercising general control over all aspects of University functioning. He is also the ex-officio chairman of the Executive Committee and Academic Council, Research Council and Extension Advisory Committee of the University, and presides over the General Council in the absence of Chancellor and/or Pro-Chancellor. General Council is the supreme authority and Executive Committee, the chief executive body of the University. Besides the General Council and Executive Committee,  the Academic Council and  the Board of Studies of different Faculties are academic – decision making bodies of the University.

The VC is assisted by the Registrar and the Director (Acad. & PGS) in implementing the academic programmes of the University

Each faculty is headed by a Dean. The colleges under the faculties are headed by Associate Deans, except in College of Agriculture, Vellayani and College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, where the respective Faculty Deans are heading the colleges. 

As per the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), each department offering undergraduate programme shall have 1 Professor, 2 Associate Professors, 4 Assistant Professors. For Departments offering post graduate programmes shall have 1 Associate Professor and 2 Assistant Professors additionally. The University was started with a scientific staff strength of 134, which grew to about 1200. However,  at present, the teaching staff strength in the entire University is only about  700.

Admissions

Admissions to academic programmes of KAU is through entrance examinations conducted by CEE of  the Government of Kerala/ICAR. Master’s students are admitted through the entrance test conducted by the University or from ICAR quota. The doctoral students are admitted considering their academic merit, the quality of thesis work proposed, work experience, publications and personal interview.  Apart from students coming to the University from all-over the state, about 15% of the KAU students at any time are from outside the state, including Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This provides a cosmopolitan approach to the University campus. In addition, students from West Asia and Africa also regularly come to the University for pursuing academic programmes on tropical crops, agroforestry etc.

Curriculum and system of education

The University follows semester system with course credit. Evaluation is both internal  and external with 10 point grading system. The system is extremely successful in unbiased evaluation and timely award of degrees to our students. The entire undergraduate programme are of 8 semester duration. In all its courses, KAU is following the curriculum and evaluation system of National pattern suggested by ICAR.  To improve the practical content, a system of Rural Agricultural Work Experience (RAWE) programme has been introduced for the undergraduate programmes, for one full semester. It provides diverse opportunities to the undergraduate students  for professional experience and acquaints them with various farm management/operations and/or exposes them to actual work situations. Another novel programme for UG students is the Experiential Learning courses offered for one semester, where practical and entrepreneurship training in any field of the students choice is offered.

In education at the bachelor’s level, professionalism would be fortified with entrepreneurship; and at the post graduate level, training would be imparted in emerging areas integrating relevant disciplines such as biotechnology, natural resource management, environment, intellectual property rights (IPR), biodiversity conservation, information technology, ecological economics, gender sensitisation etc.

Co-curricular activities

The students at KAU are encouraged to participate in various sports and games, and to follow literary and other pursuits, in spite of their busy academic schedule. The inter-collegiate sports and games meet is a regular feature of every academic year.

National Service Scheme (NSS)  encompasses regular activities such as tree planting, front line demonstrations in technology transfer, village level camps, blood donation, cleanliness drive, campus beautification etc.

Accreditation

All the colleges and courses of the University are accredited by ICAR. The College of Forestry is accredited by ICFRE also

Funding

The Government of  Kerala is the major sponsor of  the University providing  more than 80 % funding to the total budget of the University.  Indian Council of Agricultural Research is a major partner in the academic, research and extension pursuits of the University. Department of  Science and Technology /Biotechnology/ Industries/ Agricultural Marketing and Inspection/Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education/Ministry of Environment and Forests/ STEC/Kerala Forest & Wildlife Department also supports research and infrastructural development activities at KAU.

The KAU academia is well known for their commitment and contributions to the field of science. This is evident from the large number of scientific publications and the various forms of recognitions that the KAU scientists received during the last five years.

Academic performance

The educational institutions under the University has been providing high quality professional education and  is reputed as one of the best agricultural Universities in India.  During 2001-02, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research adjudged KAU as the best performing University among the Agricultural Universities in this country. During the previous years also it maintained a consistently strong position among the Indian agricultural universities.

KAU has  secured the first position (61 JRFs) among the 34 SAUs’ in India in the All India Examination held in agriculture and allied subjects for the Junior/Senior Research Fellowships, conducted by ICAR during the year 2002.  The University has been maintaining a steady position of excellence in agricultural education in the country. It had topped the national list of honours during 2001-02 with 62 JRFs. It held the second position in 2000-01 and the fifth position during 1999-2000.

The quality of education in KAU is well reflected in the students performance for the last five years. KAU won the performance award of ICAR during 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010

Awards, honours and recognitions

Excellence in teaching, research and extension education activities has been the hallmark of KAU. Consequently, scientists of KAU have been rewarded by a large number of honours, awards and other recognitions. In particular, there have been 25 achievement awards, 12 best thesis awards, of which seven are the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Awards of ICAR and 17 best paper awards to KAU scientists over the last five years. In addition, two of the KAU

Most of the constituent colleges of KAU are having independent and well-established Alumni Associations, which works in tandem with the concerned authorities for the welfare of its graduates. Forestry Alumni Association or “FORAL” is a registered association of the former students of the College of Forestry of KAU. FORAL helps students by organising seminars and annual get-togethers, which helps them to interact with alumni as well the faculty members. It also notifies job openings as well as academic opportunities through its e-group (www.groups.yahoo.com/group/forestrykau) and its web site (www.foral.org). KAU’s College of Cooperation, Banking and Management is also having a well functioning alumni association with an independent web site (www.ccbmkau.org) for exchange of information between old students. 

Job placements

KAU is the principal skilled manpower supplier of the state as far as agriculture and allied sciences are concerned. Post graduates and doctorate degree holders from KAU  man key research positions in state and national-level organisations (ICAR, ICFRE), besides foreign universities/international organisations.

The KAU has a career placement cells in all colleges. These cells provide opportunities for potential employers to recruit KAU graduates.

Several of the KAU alumni have gained entry into the civil service, agricultural research service/state departments of agriculture, animal husbandry, forests and wildlife, cooperation, fisheries and various public sector corporations and cooperative sector organisations. Besides they occupy senior positions in private companies, commercial banks, NABARD etc. Every year several of our students also gain entry into foreign academic institutions for pursuing higher education. 

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