1.10  Plan Fund Utilisation


The plan fund utilisation is grouped under five categories viz, administration, education, research, extension and miscellaneous. Most of plan fund is utilised for education followed by research, extension, miscellaneous and administrative purposes. Around 20% of plan fund is utilised for research. However in the list of ongoing projects there is no mention of the research projects funded by state plan funds.

 Table : 18

Plan fund utilisation     - Expenditure                                                                                                 (Rs Lakhs)

 

1998-99

Accounts

1999-00 Accounts

2000-01 Accounts

2001-02 Accounts

2002-03 RE

2003-04 BE

Administration

5.79

3.73

8.19

0.51

2.55

16.80

Education

416.55

854.73

660.62

579.44

1534.01

2481.45

Research

316.00

334.72

327.01

356.33

412.03

540.56

Extension

73.83

80.97

56.56

104.55

110.37

125.52

Miscellaneous

3.19

41.29

331.44

401.69

71.29

22.16

 Total:

815.36

1315.44

1383.92

1442.54

2130.23

3186.49

During 2000-01, out of a Plan expenditure of Rs. 13.84 crores, Rs. 3.81 crore was spent for the payment of salaries.

The total Plan funds spent for education in 2000-01 was Rs. 6.61 crores (48% of plan expenditure).  Out of this, 35% was for agriculture, 48% for Veterinary and animal sciences, 9% on library, 4% on co-operation and Banking, 2% each on Agricultural Engineering and Fisheries.

            Out of a total Plan fund utilised for research, (Rs. 3.27 crores ) in 2000-01,  69%  was for agriculture,  14% was for research in Veterinary and animal sciences, 0.44% for fisheries, 16% for Agricultural engineering and  0.38% for forestry.

1.11 Unrealistic budget preparation

The budgeted outlay , Revised outlay and actual expenditure were significantly different and the university is not preparing realistic budgets. The state plan allocation is finalised in January- February and the budget of the University is presented in March- April. But the receipts are shown at very higher levels than the  allocation. During 2003-04 the plan allocation and budgeted amount was Rs. 22 crores while the budget  of the University was presented for a plan outlay of Rs. 31.86 crores. (45% higher amount).


 

 
1.12          Higher Concentration of staff in selected locations and inadequate deployment of   Staff to remote stations.

Eight Colleges account for 582 Faculty of the University

            The Staff pattern indicate higher concentration in selected Colleges and research stations while in remote stations the number is quite low compared to sanctioned strength.  There are 181 faculty members in the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Trivandrum while remote stations like college of Agriculture, Kasaragod and RARS, Ambalawayal are having lower number of faculty members.

(1)    College of Agriculture, Vellayani:

Faculty                 -       181

Administration     -         170

Technical               -      78                    

Teaching :   Non-teaching ratio:            1:0.94

Students:

            B.Sc. (Ag)                    -           88

            U.G                              -           258

            P.G                              -           57        

                                                     ---------

                  Total:                      -           315

      -------------

Student: Teacher ratio                -           1.74:1

                                                           =======

                                                            Faculty: P.G student ratio           3.78:1

                                                                                                             =====

            NARP is also located in the same campus  with  another 26 faculty members, 19 technical and 20 administrative and supporting staff are working under NARP scheme.

(2)    College of Agriculture, Pilicode, Kasargod

Faculty Nos.                            -           25

Administration                          -           18

Technical                                  -           7

Faculty: non-teaching ratio         -           1:0.72

Students                                    -           103

            Faculty: Student ratio                 -           1:4.12

(3)    College of Horticulture, Thrissur

Faculty                         -           122

Administration               -           44

Technical                      -           38

Students

            U.G                              -           276

            P.G                              -           70

                 Total:                       -           346

                        Teacher: Student ratio                -          1:2.66

                        Faculty: Non-teaching ratio          -         1:0.36

                        Faculty: P.G. Student ratio          -          1.86:1

(4)    Ambalawayal - RARS, Wayanad

Faculty                                     -           7

Administrative & supporting       -           12

            This high range station was started in 1945, in 1987 it was elevated to the status of RARS, with Cardamom Research Station, Pampadumpara as its sub station.  The staff support provided in this RARS is inadequate.

Faculty Members in other RARS

            RARS, Thiruvananthapuram                  -           26

            RARS, Pilicode                                     -           12

            RARS, Kumarakom                              -           15

            RARS, Pattambi                                    -           20

            RARS, Kayamkulam                             -           8

            RARS, Ambalawayal                            -           7

For implementing Coconut Care Programme supported by local self governments,  the Rice Research Station  Kayamkulam was upgraded to the status of RARS.

1.13 Reduced Student demand for some courses

                        For some of the courses student demand is quite low especially in some of the  P.G. programmes like M.Sc. (Ag. Statistics), MSc. Co-operation  and Banking.  some Ph.D programmes etc.

 

Intake capacity

No. admitted

M.Sc (Ag)

75

55

M.Sc (C&B)

6

4

Ph.D

38

15

M.V.Sc

57

43

Ph.D

13

3

M.Tech (Agrl. Engineering)

10

5

M.F.Sc

10

6

Horticulture College

M.Sc (Ag. Statistics)                             -           1999 admission -           1

                                                                        2000 admission  -           -          

Intake capacity                                        -         4

College of Co-operation

M.Sc (C&B)                    -        intake capacity 1999-00             -           6

                                                            intake is reported as  3

            Others

 

            Fisheries                          -        Ph.D Programme on rolls           -           Nil

            Agrl. Engineering          -           Ph.D Programme on rolls           -           Nil

            M.Tech (Agrl.

              Engineering)                   -        2000     -           only 1 student

                                                                                    (intake capacity - 10)

1.14Inadequate focus on need based research

There is inadequacy in need based research.  In the following areas, research projects are relatively low.

-          Regional fertilizer recommendations

-          Integrated farming systems

-          Standardisation of local varieties

-          Socio economic research

-          Natural resource management

-          Agro processing

-          Micro nutrients

-          Quality control

-          Ornamental fisheries

-          Marketing

-          Organic farming

1.15  New Institutions started

(1)   College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, Kasaragode

The college was started in 1994 in the campus of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode.  The erstwhile Coconut Farm, Padannakkad, under the Department of Agriculture was transferred to Kerala Agricultural University for establishing the college.  Later the college was shifted to Padannakkad campus in 1998 in the newly constructed buildings.

Staff position:

            Associate Director        :             1

            Associate Professor      :             6

            Asst. Professor             :           16

            Technical                      :             6

            Non-technical                :           16

Students                         :         140

             There is no PG course in this college.

(II)  College of Vetrinary and Animal Sciences, Pookkod, Wayanad

            Sanction was accorded to start a new Veterinary College at Pookot in Wayanad district in 1996 and a special officer was appointed.  The office of the new Veterinary College has started functioning  at Mannuthy in 1998.  The college started functioning with 40 students from the academic year 1999-00.  Separate staff members were not recruited and the students are still studying at the existing Veterinary College, Mannuthy.

Staff:

            Special Officer  -           1

            Technical          -           2

            Administrative   -           4

Students as on 31.3.2000

            1999 admission  -           37

            2000 admission  -           38

The budget proposal for the first five years for the development of the College is shown below:

                                                                                    (Crores)

Year

I

II

III

IV

V

Total

10.25

10.08

7.85

7.45

6.95

42.58

The total expenditure till March 3/2002 incurred for the construction of College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookot was Rs.297.61 lakhs.  The construction of academic block No.1 is very slow (completed only 29%) while it is stopped by the contractor for want of rate revision for the academic block No.II (completed 35%).  Construction of type III flat, type IV, V and VI quarters were completed by 80-90%, while construction of ladies hostel is just 7 per cent completed.  Construction of academic block alone requires an additional 6 crores.

            Government have sanctioned 90 academic and 184 non-technical staff members for the college for the first three years of the course in 2001 (G.O.(Rt)No.651/2001/AD dated 29-3-2001) and with a direction to meet the expenditure under plan.  KAU has not recruited these staff members for the college.  The pay and allowances for staff for the College alone is projected at 9.25 crores for the first five years (X Plan document of the University).  It would be 2.50 crores annually for pay and allowances and 0.85 crore recurring contingency at the end of tenth plan period alone.

(III) . College of Dairy Science and Technology, Mannuthy

            A degree programme in Dairy Science and Technology was initiated in 1993 at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy.  Later a separate college was formed.  Now the college is functioning at Mannuthy, utilising the facilities of the Veterinary College.  It was decided to relocate the College at Kolahalamedu in Idukki district in 1995.  The land available with KLD Board farm in Idukki at Kolahalamedu has already transferred to University.  A special officer is entrusted with the establishment of the college at Kolahalamedu.

            In 2000, Government have ordered transfer of 84 ha of land comprising the base farm with ancilliary facilities and the farm labourers to KAU for starting the Dairy Science College.  Rest of the area of the farm (678.26 ha) was transferred to the Department of Tourism to start a Tourism project.

Staff

Special Officer                          -           1

            Assistant Professor                   -           1

            Technical                                  -           6  (1 daily wage)

            Administration &

            Supporting                                 -           7   (2         “         )

Students  (31.3.2000)                               :          103

Expenditure

1.       Amount paid in the farm of compensation to KLD Board                   -           150 lakhs

2.       Amount spent for the maintenance of the farm from 10.8.2000           -           109.41 lakhs

3.       Amount spent on construction work                                                  -           63.00

                                    Total:                                                                -           322.41 lakhs

            The projected expenditure for 10th plan period for the college is Rs.22.43 crore and the terminal year salary alone forms 1.76 crore.  Committed expenditure to be paid to KLD Board is Rs.1.91 crore towards the settlement of Kolahalamedu farm.

(IV)  Soil Conservation Research Station, Konni

            The Soil Conservation Research Station, Konni was established in 1958 with the prime objective of conducting problem oriented studies related to the conservation of Soil and water, especially under a tapioca based farming system.

It was taken up by the Department of Agriculture in 1962 with the aim of conducting research in Soil Conservation methods suited for Kerala.  The station was handed over to the Kerala agricultural University on 01-07-1998.

Staff Position (as on 31st March 2001)

A.     Scientific Staff

            Designation                       In position                                       Remarks

Associate Professor                                 1                                    Working arrangement

Assistant Professor                                  1                               Coir Board Project

A.     Administrative & Supporting Staff

Section Officer                              1                                     Working arrangement

Assistant, Typist, Driver     4                                      Temporarily created

B.     Technical Staff

Farm Supervisor                            2                                      Working arrangement

Farm Assistant                              1

Permanent labourers                  62       

Research Programmes

Four  research Projects  on Coir geotextiles sponsored by the Coir Board

Extension:    

 Field visits, participation in radio talks, training programmes.

1.16  ACHIEVEMENTS OF KAU

The Accreditation Committee  of ICAR has ranked KAU as the Second best Agricultural University in the country