Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning from 1-2-1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the State Agricultural Universities of India. The Faculty of Agriculture is the largest among the four faculties followed by faculties of Veterinary Sciences, Agricultural Engineering and Fisheries. The University is offering seven graduate programmes, nine postgraduate programmes in 43 disciplines and doctoral programmes in Agriculture, Horticulture, Home Science (FS&N), Co-operation & Banking and Veterinary & Animal Sciences covering 23 disciplines. Apart from this, the University is offering two diploma courses and several training programmes. From 1986 onwards semester system with external evaluation is being followed for Agriculture, Fisheries and Agricultural Engineering faculties while Veterinary and Animal Sciences faculty is following the system recommended by the Veterinary Council of India for graduate programme. Unlike the UG programmes, the evaluation in PG courses is by the course teachers.

In 1972 there were 134 faculty positions, which have expanded currently to 732 faculty positions. In 1972, the total staff strength of the Faculty of Agriculture was only nine Professors, 21 Jr. Professors and 32 Lecturers compared to 52 Professors, 236 Associate Professors and 212 Assistant Professors during 2000. Similar increase was recorded in the Veterinary Faculty also. Now more than 70% of the Faculty have doctoral/post-doctoral qualifications and forty per cent of the Faculty members have taken the highest degree from outside the State and 18% from foreign countries.

Research activities of the University are organised and conducted at six Regional Agricultural Research Stations, 26 Research Stations, three Centres of Advanced Studies, one Centre for Agricultural Biotechnology & Molecular Biology and ten Instructional Farms. Currently research projects are supported by State, ICAR, Commodity Boards, DST, DBT, ICFRE, DOE&F etc.

Kerala has five agro-ecological zones viz. South, Special Zone of Problem Areas, Central, High range and Northern, spread over 14 districts of the State. Each zone is headed by an Associate Director of Research. A new zone was created at Kayamkulam in 2000 to implement the newly introduced Comprehensive Coconut Care Programme .The Onattukara station was elevated to the status of RARS for this purpose.

In the Agricultural Faculty there are 122 ongoing research projects funded by different agencies, 39 research projects in Veterinary Faculty , seven projects in Fisheries faculty and ten projects in Agricultural Engineering faculty.

Extension education, which is an integral programme of the University, is organised and conducted by the Directorate of Extension. The Extension Advisory Committee helps in formulating extension education policies and programmes of the University. The extension activities are implemented through Communication Centre, Farm Advisory Service, five KVKs, Central Training Institute and Village Adoption Programmes.

The expenditure of the University in 1998-99 was Rs.50.34 crores which increased to Rs.87.58 crores in 2000-01. It declined by 21% in 2001-02 and RE for 2002-03 was Rs.83.23 crores. The plan expenditure increased from Rs.8.15 crores in 1998-99 to Rs.14.43 crores in 2001-02 and the RE for 2002-03 was Rs.21.30 crores. The share of expenditure from external sources increased consistently from Rs.6.98 crores in 1998-99 to Rs.11.21 crores in 2001-02. However the BE for 2002-03 from external sources was projected at Rs.14.44 crores . The projected amount was just 50 per cent of the share received in 2001-02. The B.E for 2003-04 from external sources is projected at a lower level This is a disturbing trend and the University may try to get more funding from external sources in future.

In 2000-01 and 2001-02 expenditure exceeded receipts by an annual average of Rs.3.30 crores. KAU might have used funds from external aided projects and funds from GPF for bridging the gap. KAU has reported diversion of funds from external aided projects to the tune of Rs. 3.00 crore and GPF liability as 28.00 crores. The new institutions started by the KAU especially the Veterinary college and Dairy science college also acted as additional burden for the University.

The share of education accounted for 47 per cent in 2001-02 followed by research, 39 per cent. The share for research was projected at 54 per cent in 2002-03 and 31 per cent in 2003-04. Compared to 2001-02 actual expenditure, a 42 per cent hike in expenditure on education is expected during 2003-04 (BE)

SWOT ANALYSIS OF KAU

Strength

• Trained human resources in specialised subjects
• Reasonably good laboratory and infrastructural facilities for conducting research work
• Sufficient experiment fields with irrigation facilities for conducting research activities under different agro ecological situations
• Research and extension institutions spread over all the 14 districts of the State
• A central library and libraries in all the constituent colleges and research stations with reasonably good number of books and journals.
• Good IT infrastructure facilities with free internet access to students and faculty and adequate computer support

Weakness

• Higher concentration of staff in selected locations
• Low staff and faculty motivation
• Inadequate deployment of staff to man remote stations
• Disproportionately excessive management overhead
• Reduced acceptance of certain released varieties and technologies
• Paucity of funds to invest in high technology programmes
• Diversion of funds from External aided projects
• Lower share of funds from external aided projects
• Inadequate focus for need based research
• Lower share of External assistance

Opportunities

• Strengthening consultancy services
• Patenting of research findings
• Shifting of thrust in view of globalisation and IPR issues
• Gearing up to face the challenges raised by globalisation by shifting the thrust towards high-tech agriculture
• Reducing the management overhead by adopting suitable state of the art technologies and governance policies
• Market-oriented agriculture
• Tie up with local self governments for consultancy and capacity building in agriculture and allied sectors
• Linkage with LSGs for Participatory Technology Development and mobilisation of funding support

Threats

• Globalisation necessitates changes in the concept of conventional agriculture
• Restrictive funding from Government to commensurate with the increasing operational cost
• Reduced student demand for some planned programmes

ACHIEVEMENTS OF KAU

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

SUGGESTIONS BASED ON THE PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF THE DOCUMENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY

The suggestions emerged out of the preliminary analysis of the documents furnished by the Kerala Agricultural University are grouped under seven categories.

1. EDUCATION

The B.Sc. (Cooperation & Banking) is a four year Professional course and continuation of this course needs to be examined. Over the years, job opportunities for the students didn’t show any significant increase and there is reported shortage of students selected through entrance examination. Instead of continuing the teaching course, the college may be converted as a training cum research centre in co-operative management, rural marketing, rural banking and agribusiness management. Appropriate training for the faculties at IRMA or some another reputed organisations can be initiated. Rural marketing as well as agribusiness are important areas which warrant focussed attention in the context of emerging challenges in the agricultural scenario of the state.

Restructuring and reorientation of Post Graduate programmes are essential in the changing context. There are shortage of students for P.G. courses like Co-operation and Banking, Agricultural Statistics, Agricultural Engineering etc.

In view of the changing global scenario, there is every need to tailor the academic programmes to meet the new elements. As a part of Tenth plan, KAU proposed abolishing of some of the Post graduate programmes in certain conventional areas, revision of under graduate syllabi, re-orienting and re-structuring of other programmes in emerging areas of importance.

New institutions in KAU were started mostly based on non-academic reasons. There is higher rate of unemployment reported for the agricultural graduates. Scientific manpower forecast for the next 10-20 years may be done for manpower planning.

2. New Institutions started by the KAU during 8th and 9th plans

College of Agriculture, Pilicode, Kasaragod

The University has not provided adequate staff members at this college. The College of Agriculture is under the control of the Associate Dean while the nearby RARS and Karuvachery Farms are under the control of the Associate Director, RARS, Pilicode. Originally it was visualised to function these three institutions as one unit. These three institutions are to be brought under the administrative control of the Associate Dean of the College so that reduction in administrative overheads as well as mitigation of teaching staff could be addressed to an extent. The staff members can operate from the college while technical staff members can be retained at the RARS. The lab facilities created at the RARS can be put to optimal use on a long term basis for both students and research purpose.

College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookod, Wayanad

The college is located in a remote place in Wayanad district. If the experience of College of Agriculture, Padannakkad could be a guide, the College of Veterinary Science at Pookot may become another liability for the University. Considering the financial burden for the University, the possibility of dropping the course may be thought of. Total cost expected is Rs.43 crores. Possibility of converting the College as a research institute cum hospital may be explored so that local community also get benefited. Private participation may also be possible for strengthening the infrastructure base. Efforts may have to be taken to get recognition for the students admitted in the new College. A detailed discussion with Veterinary Council of India (VCI) officials may be arranged to formulate necessary action.

College of Dairy Science and Technology, Mannuthy

The course may be stopped and the feasibility of transferring the farm back to KLD Board or to the Tourism Project may be explored.

Soil Conservation Research Station (SCRS), Konni

KAU has not initiated much basic and applied studies in relation to soil erosion, soil conservation, ground water management, water harvesting structures etc. The present station is an ideal location for initiating these type of studies. The station can be developed as a live model for all soil and water conservation methods and can be developed as a training centre for watershed management. Major portion of the farm is contour bunded and supplied with properly designed grades and waterways. There are scientifically designed plots with all supporting structures.

Since Natural Resource Management is an emerging area, a number of funding opportunities are available from external sources. More faculty members from the College of Agricultural Engineering, may be re-deployed to the station. More over the AICRP station at Karumady has been closed and the two Agricultural Engineers at present working at Karumady are continuing in one NATP scheme. Both the Agricultural Engineering faculty members may be re-deployed to SCRS.

Social Scientists may also be re-deployed to SCRS for organising training programmes on watershed management for the local bodies. The local bodies will have to prepare watershed based plans for which there is dearth of qualified personnel. Through this training programmes internal resources also could be mobilised.

3. RESEARCH

Inadequate focus on need based research and Re prioritisation of Research

The need based research especially related to regional fertilizer recommendation, integrated farming system, agro processing and value addition, natural resource management , marketing etc are quite weak in KAU. Most of the research institutions were started decades back. Even though there is phenomenal growth in the number of research papers produced, documentary evidence about the prioritization exercise in research is not available. This is very important in the context of shrinking financial resources. A proper reprioritization of the research problems reflecting the felt need of the farming community is essential for optimising resource use.

There is inadequate research in KAU on fruits, flowers, medicinal plants, hi-tech agriculture, urban agriculture, farming systems research, inland fisheries, socio economic dimensions of agriculture and animal husbandry, animal biotechnology, IT applications in agriculture, entrepreneurship development, agro processing etc. A reprioritisation exercise using ISNAR methodologies may be initiated immediately.

Refocusing of research is needed in some areas under Veterinary research also. There is a dearth of data on animal component of different farming systems prevalent in different agroecological zones. eg. crop – livestock, fisheries system, socio economic aspects of animal husbandry and dairy systems . Veterinary biotechnology research perhaps possible through initiating tie up with some reputed private agencies.

IPR and Patenting

There is not much evidence about the number of patents obtained for the KAU scientists. KAU may have to initiate a wing for IPR and patents in agricultural and allied sectors.

Duplication of Research

There are several institutes specialized in agricultural research in the State under different management. This include ICAR institutes like CPCRI, CTCRI, IISR,CMFRI,CIFT. Autonomous institutions like CWRDM, KFRI, TBGRI, institutions of Commodity Boards like ICRI, RRII etc.

The Duplication of research for the same commodities in KAU and Central institutes may be avoided. Extensive research data on coconut is available at CPCRI, similarly in Spices research also Spices Board and ICAR institutions are involved. Entire tuber crops research could be handled at CTCRI. Possibility for appropriate tie up with central institutes for any multi locational trials can be explored. A regular discussion forum may be created with all the research institutions involved in agricultural research in the State for research planning.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The half yearly and annual progress report of projects prepared by the project leaders are sent to the Co ordinator and to the Directorate of Research. CAG reports indicates time over run for several projects. Modern techniques of M&E of research programmes assumes more significance in the resource starved University. Proper mechanism may be put in order for a systematic monitoring and review of research programmes.

External aided projects

The receipts from external agencies increased from Rs. 6.39 crores in 1991-92 to Rs. 14.90 crores in 2001-02. As per the University’s records, maximum number of research papers was produced from the college of Horticulture, Vellanikkara for the last five years, followed by College of Agriculture, Vellayani and college of Veterinary and Animal Sciences which shows the potential of scientific talents. Most of the Faculty members are also well qualified with the highest degrees. More than 70 per cent of the faculties have doctoral or post doctoral qualifications. Forty per cent of the Faculty members have taken the highest degree from outside the State and 18 percent from foreign countries But the quantum of per capita external funding was not commensurate with the potential of the scientists.

External aid of faculty members

· The external aid per faculty is relatively low and it ranged from Rs. 0.09 lakh/year in College of Co-operation and Banking to Rs.0.84 lakh/year in College of Agricultural Engineering. Among RARS and Research Stations, it varied from Rs. 0.01 lakh in Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy to Rs. 5.54 lakh in Centre for Advanced Studies in genetics.

· KAU may take more interest to motivate scientists to approach external sources for funding for research.

Reported diversion of funds from external aided projects as well as problems in release of funds to the concerned scientists from external aided projects should be avoided for effective utilisation as well as to augment future flow of funds from reputed external agencies.

4. ADMINISTRATION

Higher concentration of staff in selected locations and inadequate deployment of staff to remote stations

The College of Agriculture, Vellayani accounts for 181 faculty members with 170 administrative staff for 258 UG and 57 PG students. Another 26 staff are in NARP (Souther n Zone) for research. While in the college of Agriculture, Padannakkad there is only 25 faculty members for 103 UG students. While in college of Horticulture 130 faculty members for 276 UG students and 70 PG students. The important high range station in Ambalawayal ,Wynad is having only seven faculty members. Lowest number of faculty members among RARS is provided in this station. Steps are needed to correct this imbalance.

Disproportionately excessive management overhead

Nearly 55 percent of expenditure during 2000-01 was for the payment of salary alone and the total non-plan expenditure was 69 per cent. A detailed analysis may be attempted to minimize administrative overheads. Appropriate blend of E-Governance with administrative reforms can perhaps address this issue partially. There is a need to initiate a work study for both administrative and scientific staff of the University similar to the pattern adopted by Government of India.

Expenditure Management

Reported actions are not available about any proper expenditure control measures initiated by the University. Departmental and institutional synergies combined with pooling of common resources and other measures may be initiated immediately.

5. FINANCE

Plan Fund Utilisation

Most of the 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.

Plan Progress report

KAU has not taken any effort to prepare Plan Progress report. The progress report submitted on 16.10.2002 indicated no expenditure on any schemes instead it indicated BE for 215 schemes earmarked for implementation during 2002-03 for an amount of Rs. 23.42 crores. Allocation for nine schemes amounted to Rs. 15.63 crores. Works formed Rs. 8.67 crores, followed by strengthening of U.G. Programmes (2.18 crores), establishment of new college (Rs. 1.04 crore), strengthening College of Agriculture, Padannakkad (Rs. 82.00 lakhs), strengthening of SCRC, Konni (Rs. 48 lakhs). The Progress report submitted on 11.2.03 indicated general activities of stations and colleges including some of the results of ongoing schemes. No scheme wise physical or financial progress were indicated. Without reporting any expenditure till August, production and sales of planting materials including grafts, hybrid coconut seedlings etc. were shown in the progress report furnished in February. The progress report seems to be a copy prepared for some external agencies like ICAR. The progress report furnished on 7.6. 2003, is again the copy of the report submitted in February. KAU has not prepared a new progress report, instead forwarded the copy of the same progress report forwarded earlier in February 2003. KAU is not taking any interest in compiling data or furnishing the minimum required details in the progress report.

A proper Plan monitoring and reporting system should be insisted before release of any Plan funds in future.

Some of the activities mentioned in the progress report are funded by LSGs.

Eventhough it was written in the budget to prepare a project report before release of funds in 2002-03, no such project report was prepared and submitted to Government and fund was released without approving the project report. The preparation and approval of project report should be made mandatory before release of funds during 2003-04.

In some of the stations, the only activity shown in the Plan progress report is the production of planting materials. eg: Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram. (Progress report, June 2003)

Unrealistic budget preparation

The budgeted outlay, Revised outlay and actual expenditure were significantly different and the university is not preparing realistic budgets. Several promises in earlier budgets remained unfulfilled mainly because of the unrealistic budget preparation.

UGC issues

Government had sanctioned implementation of UGC/ICAR pay scales to the teachers/scientists in 1990. But there are several reported anomalies in the implementation of the scheme involving additional financial burden for the Government. A Committee appointed by Government of Kerala has examined the issues connected with the implementation of the scheme. Several anomalies leading to additional financial commitments to Governments were indicated in the report of the Committee. The recommendations of the Committee may be implemented immediately.

Diversion of funds from external aided projects

KAU has reported diversion of funds from external aided projects. Steps are necessary to avoid this practice.

Internal Resources

The rate of growth of internal resources generation for KAU is not very encouraging. It increased from Rs. 2.02 crores in 1991-92 to Rs. 5.27 crores in 2001-02 and further projected only at Rs.5.28 crores during 2002-03. There is considerable potential to generate income from different farms attached to the institutions through planting material production and distribution Other sources of income generation possibilities also have to be explored. At the University level an MOU system should be adopted for the production of various planting materials.

6. EXTENSION

ATIC

The Agricultural Technology Information Centres (ATIC) are to be established in different locations similar to the present centre at Mannuthy.

Consultancy Services

There is ample scope for generating income through constancy services especially in the frontier areas of floriculture, tissue culture, landscape architecture, agro processing etc. Consultancies related to project preparation for the local bodies in agriculture and allied sectors is another potential area.

Technology business incubators (TBIs)

Technology Business incubators would help entrepreneurs in creating enterprises that generate employment and speedy commercialization of research findings. There is a scheme for TBIs in the Department of Science and
Technology of Government of India. At present there are four TBIs located in Noida, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, and those focus on select thrust areas The newly proposed TBIs would be set up in Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Vellore and Kozhikode. KAU can take up a proposal to start a TBI at Trissur in Agri-business.

7. RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS

1. RARS, Pilicode

There are three institutions viz, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad RARS, Pilicode and Karuvachery Farm which are working near by. The College of Agriculture is under the control of the Associate Dean and RARS and Karuvachery Farm are under the control of the Associate Director, RARS. At the time of establishment of the new College, it was visualised these three institutions as one unit. But later college building was constructed at Padannakkad, about 8 km away from RARS, Pilicode. These three institutions are to be brought under the control of the Associate Dean, College of Agriculture for the optimal use of human and other resources.

2. Cashew Research Station, Anakkayam, Malappuram ((1963)

Although Malappuram is an ideal location for research on cashew, considering the financial position of the University, the mandate of the station may be enlarged for covering research on some of the neglected fruit crops like guava, mango, pomegranate, custard apple etc. for which there may be a place in the agricultural map of Kerala in future. There is a center attached to KAU at Trichur (Cashew Research Station, Madakkathara started in 1923) for research on cashew.

3. Pepper Research Station Panniyur

This is the only station specialised in pepper research. There is scope to get more external assistance for pepper research, not only from Government of India but international agencies can also be tapped. Pepper being an important crop, further research efforts are needed. Collaboration with Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikkode can produce useful results in pepper research. Duplication of research in pepper done at Indian Institute of Spices Research, may be minimised.

4. RARS, Ambalawayal

This is an important station for conducting research suited to high elevation localities. There is considerable scope in production and distribution of planting materials, coffee and pepper based consultancy production of bio control agents and distribution of ornamental plants. This has to be strengthened.

5. RARS, Pattambi

This is a premier Rice Research Station and more research is needed on cost reducing agricultural technologies. The assessment of field level adoption constraints for various varieties released by the centre may be initiated. More than 50 paddy varieties were released from the centre. But lower level of adoption of some of the varieties was reported.

6. Cropping Systems Research, Alathur Sub centre

The centre has produced very good results for field adoption. The leaf colour chart technique of this centre can be adopted in the farmers field for nitrogen application without testing the soil. The report prepared by the centre in collaboration with the Palakkad Paddy Vikasana Agency is very much useful for practical decision making. University may try to replicate the type of output produced by the centre to other areas also.

7. Banana Research Station, Kannara

More research on value added products of banana is essential.

8. Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy

There is scope for generation of income through the production of planting materials.

9. Cardamom Research Station (CRS), Idukki

The Lead function of the station is for research in cardamom. Continuation of cardamom research by the University has to be discussed. In Idukki district there is another specialized research station of Spices Board for conducting research mainly on Cardamom. Duplication of research may be avoided.

The CRS, Idukki may be converted as a center for research in organic agriculture which is another emerging area. At present there is no specialized center for organic agriculture in the University. Through organic agriculture, there is immense scope in future to attract external funding for KAU.

10. RARS, Kayamkulam

A new project on comprehensive coconut care project for augmenting income from root wilt affected holdings was initiated about two years back with the financial assistance of Alappuzha District Panchayat. For implementing this scheme, the station was upgraded to the status of an RARS and six staff members were posted by redeployment. Alapuzha District Panchayat has provided Rs.15 lakh for the project. In order to implement the project, the station was upgraded to the status of an RARS and mandate was also changed. Tie up with local bodies can be appreciated, but such schemes should be implemented with in the mandate of the station. Implementation part could have been entrusted to district panchayat with the technical supervision of KAU, Kayamkulam.

11. Sugarcane Research Centre, Thiruvalla

Possibility of linking sugarcane research with other related research may also be explored. Continuation of breeding programmes in sugarcane has to be discussed.

12. AICRP, Karumady

The station was started as part of an ICAR sponsored AICRP on agricultural drainage. Now the scheme was discontinued and another project from NATP was sanctioned. In the present circumstances instead of continuing agricultural engineers in the station, the posts may be shifted to SCRI, Konni to strengthen the new station.

13. Cropping System Station at Karamana

The research at present revolves around the old cropping system of rice-rice-pulse rotation. The centre has not focussed on demand oriented cropping systems research.

Possibility of converting this centre as a specialized centre for Hi-tech agriculture may be explored. At present the database on hi-tech agriculture relevant to Kerala is lacking in KAU which is an emerging area. Similarly it is time to initiate research in urban agriculture for which the station may be ideal. Considering the expertise available at the college of Agriculture and locational advantage of the centre, it may be converted to specialize in these two areas, through redeployment of staff from the college of Agriculture, Vellayani or other centers.

14. Coconut Research Station, Balaramapuram

Utility of continuing the Balaramapuram Station from the point of view of coconut research needs to be discussed. The major activity listed in the Plan progress report is the production of planting materials. The station may be handed over to local bodies or Department of Agriculture for the production of planting materials.

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