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 the other for 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 the due course. Of these, the College of Horticulture at Vellanikkara was established in 1972.  College of Fisheries was started during 1979 at Panangad in Kochi (Cochin). 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.  A college for Co-operation and Banking was started at the KAU main campus during 1981 (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 the University started College of Forestry, in the main campus at  Vellanikkara, Thrissur district, during 1986.

To provide for the growing educational/training needs in the dairying sector, a College of Dairy Science and Technology also was established during 1993.  One more agricultural college was established at Padanakkad (Kasaragod district) during 1994 and a Veterinary college at  Pookode (Wayanad district) during 1999 to address the regional needs of North Malabar, the relatively less developed northern part of the state.

During 2010 the Kerala Agricultural 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. Presently, KAU has six  colleges, 15 research stations (6 Regional Agricultural Research Stations), 4 instructional farms, 7 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), a central training institute and an Academy for Climate Change Education and Research (ACCER).  

 The Kerala Agricultural University is mandated to provide the technology, skill  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 demands. The education programmes are reformed to include more practical component and entrepreneurship training in priority areas. 

The University offers UG programmes in five disciplines, M.Sc. in 26 disciplines, Integrated M.Sc. in two disciplines, MBA in Agri-business Management, Ph.D. in 19 disciplines.

No. of Faculties:  2              -     1.  Agriculture      2.   Agricultural Engineering & Technology

Colleges:  6   (five under faculty of Agriculture and one under faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology)

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)

 (A two year diploma course in Agricultural Sciences is offered at Regional Agricultural Research Station Pattambi, Palakkad since 2011)

 Statutory Departments   under the Faculty of Agriculture

Statutory Departments under the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering & Technology

 7. Academic programmes offered       

Faculty of Agricultural Engineering & Technology

Self-supporting courses offered

Organisational set up

Vice-Chancellor (VC) 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 is the chief executive body of the University. The Academic Council of the University and the Board of Studies of concerned Faculties are responsible for making / proposing academic programmes, rules and regulations.

The VC is assisted by the Registrar and the Director (Acad. & PGS) in implementing the academic programmes of the University. The Director of Research, Director Extension and Director of Students Welfare co-ordinates the research , technology transfer and students welfare activities respectively.

Each faculty is headed by a Dean. The colleges under the faculties are headed by Associate Deans, except in College of Agriculture, Vellayani where the Faculty Dean is heading the college. 

The University was started with a faculty strength of 134, which grew to about 1200. However, at present, with the trifurcation and disaffiliation of the faculty of fisheries and faculty of veterinary and Animal Sciences the teaching staff strength in the entire University is about 700.

Admissions

Admissions to academic programmes of KAU are through entrance examinations conducted by CEE of the Government of Kerala.  Master’s students are admitted through the entrance Examination conducted by the University. The doctoral students are admitted considering their academic merit, the quality of thesis work proposed, work experience, publications and personal interview.  15% of UG seats and 25% of the PG seats are All India Quota, admitted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through separate All India Entrance Examinations conducted by ICAR.  A few seats are reserved for students from Lakshadweep. This provides a cosmopolitan status to the University campus with students from other states of India. In addition, students from West Asia and Africa also regularly come to the University for pursuing academic programmes.

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 entire undergraduate programme is 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 student’s 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 technological 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, games, literary competitions, etc. The inter-collegiate sports / games meet and art festival 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. National Cadet Corps (NCC) training is compulsory for B. Sc. (Forestry) students.

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 an important 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 have been providing high quality professional education and is reputed as one of the best agricultural Universities in India.  During 2003, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research adjudged KAU as the best performing University among the State Agricultural Universities in India  and awarded “Sardar Patel - Outstanding ICAR Institution Award”.

KAU has secured the first position (in the All India Competitive Examination held in agriculture and allied subjects for the Junior/Senior Research Fellowships, conducted by ICAR during the year 2002.  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 , 2010 and 2011.  The University has been maintaining a steady position of excellence in agricultural education in the country.

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.

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 web site (www.forestry.kau.edu).  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 technical human resource provider 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 the state and national-level organisations (ICAR, ICFRE), besides foreign universities/international organisations.

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

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