Latest news with #KeralaAgriculturalUniversity
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Agricultural households in Kerala increasingly viewing social media as source for farming-related technical advisory services: report
Agricultural households in Kerala are increasingly viewing social media as an easily accessible source for farming-related technical advisory services, a survey by the State government's Economics and Statistics Department shows. While mass media platforms generally play a significant role in disseminating farming knowhow, social media was the most accessed source overall, reaching 355 per 1,000 farming households that were surveyed, according to the Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households: 2024-25 carried out in collaboration with the State Agriculture Department. Social media was followed by radio, television, and other electronic media (327 per 1,000), print media (213 per 1,000), and smartphone-based apps (146 per 1,000). These results underline the growing importance of digital and mass communication channels in agricultural extension, the report said. A comparison of the access to technical advice by agricultural households between 2018-2019 and 2023-25 shows an increase in the case of progressive farmers, government extension programme (ATMA) and smart phone-based information. At the same time, the Kerala Agricultural University and colleges emerged as the leading source of advice on improved seeds and varieties, with 790 out of 1,000 households reporting support from these institutions. Input dealers were the primary source of guidance on fertiliser application. Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and government extension agencies played a pivotal role in providing plant protection advice. Peer networks remain influential, with progressive farmers offering considerable advice on fertiliser application and improved seeds, demonstrating the continued relevance of farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer, the report observed. 'Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and private processors were notable sources of advice in the post-harvest stages, especially in harvesting and marketing (438 and 158 households per 1,000, respectively), highlighting the role of collective and commercial linkages,' it said.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Science
- The Hindu
KAU sending seeds to space on NASA's Axiom Mission 4
In a collaboration, the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) is joining NASA's Axiom Mission 4, marking a significant milestone for Indian agricultural science in space research. The mission will carry seed varieties developed by the KAU to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a collaborative research initiative. The project is a joint effort involving the European Space Agency (ESA), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), and the KAU's College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The seeds selected for the space experiment include six high-yielding locally developed crop varieties: Jyothi, Uma (rice varieties); Kanakamani (horse gram); Thilakathara (sesame); Soorya (brinjal/eggplant); Vellayani Vijay (tomato). These seeds will undergo rigorous scientific evaluation in the unique microgravity environment of space, according to KAU sources. The primary goal of the study is to examine how space conditions, especially microgravity, affect germination, growth, and viability of food crop seeds. After spending time at the ISS, the seeds will be brought back to earth, planted in controlled environments, and monitored closely for changes in growth, resilience, and productivity. Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla, one of the astronauts aboard the Axiom Mission 4, will play a supportive role in conducting the experiment in space. Among six Indian-led experiments selected for the mission, KAU's microgravity-focussed agricultural research stands out as a key scientific contribution, the KAU sources said.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Reduced green cover, urban heat island effect make Kochi sweat: Study
Kochi: With several healthy trees being felled to convert open spaces into concrete structures, urban heat island (UHI) area is expanding in the city, thereby increasing the land surface temperature (LST). Kochi Metro Rail Ltd's move to lay interlocking tiles on medians along the metro stretch is a case in point. According to a study, anthropogenic factors and urbanisation have resulted in the city getting warmer than nearby rural parts. UHI has expanded by 66% over nine years in Kochi during winter. UHI was experienced in 14sq km in 2014 and it rose to 41sq km in 2023 during winter. The study, "Seasonal Analysis of Land Surface Temperature and Urban Heat Island Dynamics: A Comparative Study of Kochi and Fairbanks" conducted by Nansen Environmental Research Centre and Kerala Agricultural University, also shows a rising trend in LST (temperature on earth's surface in a particular area). The total rise in LST was around 1.7Celsius over the past 23 years in summer, with an annual increase of around 0.07C in Kochi. The study noted that the increase of 1.7C occurred in the peak summer month of March. In contrast, it was 1.9C during the same period in winter, with an annual increase of 0.08C. The study found that moderate UHI intensities rose from 17.74sq km in 2014 to 31.3sq km in 2023 during summer. With the city experiencing a significant warming trend, especially in winter, the study warns that it might also exacerbate the UHI effect in the years to come. It attributes severe UHI and increased temperature events to ongoing uncontrolled urbanisation and reduced green cover in Kochi. "With rising UHI, life in the city will become harsher. City dwellers experience UHI more at night because the heat remains contained within the city limits. Outer areas of the city have more vegetation and fewer concrete structures, thus helping temperature dip sooner. However, due to high impervious structures, roads and less vegetation in the city, temperature doesn't come down easily," said Chandu P J, senior project fellow at the research centre. "Even during winter, temperature in urban areas doesn't reduce, while the outskirts show a more cooling effect. The increase in heat will have huge ramifications for both macro and micro-organisms. When heat rises people install air conditioners, which in turn increases greenhouse gases that raises temperature further, causing climate change," he added. The observed trends in Kochi, alongside intensified UHI effects, underscore the need for adaptive strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of rising temperatures, the study finds. Chandu suggested increasing vegetation in the city and implementing vertical gardens in high-rise buildings to reduce rising temperatures. Box Effects of Rising Temperature *Leads to high energy consumption *Water scarcity and drought situation *Sea level rise due to melting of glaciers *Increased risk of heatwave *Adverse effects on ecosystem *Impacts health of organisms *Takes a toll on economy Mitigation *Planting more trees *Reduce greenhouse gas emissions *Sustainable urban planning with more thrust on conservation of water and biodiversity *Implementation of climate resilient actions
New Indian Express
29-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Kerala farmers keep wild boars at bay with leadwort
KOTTAYAM: As wild boar attacks continue to escalate across the state's forest fringes, an organic solution for mitigating crop destruction is gaining traction among farmers. The Indian leadwort, scientifically known as Plumbago Indica and locally referred to as 'Chethikoduveli,' has emerged as an effective deterrent, said farmers. First introduced by settler farmers in Kannur, the plant has now expanded its reach to the high ranges of Central Travancore with local bodies and the Agriculture Department taking initiatives to promote the planting of chethikoduveli at various locations. Local bodies in Idukki such as Vazhathope and Arakkulam as well as Koottickal in Kottayam have rallied to support the farmers to use this plant as a natural barrier against wild boars. 'We have decided to use this plant in our panchayat as a pilot project. We will provide plants to farmers at 75 per cent subsidy rate. In the initial phase, plants will be given to 18 farmers in the panchayat,' said Bijoy Jose, president of Koottikkal panchayat. According to experts, the plant's roots produce a pungent sap that repels wild boars, making it a natural alternative to traditional methods to prevent the vermin. Farmers residing in the forest fringes have increasingly adopted this plant, especially after previous attempts to fend off these animals proved unsuccessful. After four years of experimentation, Maju, a native of Mayyil in Kannur, introduced the Indian leadwort as an effective solution to wild boar invasions. Subsequently, the Agriculture Department validated its efficacy in preventing wild boars and have begun developing plants in their Karimbam and Aralam farms. The plants are also available at the Kerala Agricultural University's Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Research Station at Odakkali in Ernakulam. Meanwhile, chethikoduveli's success has spurred farmer interest and demand. However, despite the Agriculture Department's endorsement, its efficacy is yet to be scientifically substantiated by the experts. 'While many local initiatives have been undertaken, the precise effectiveness of this method requires scientific validation,' said Dr. P Balakrishnan, scientist at Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Safe to Eat Project: 21.29% vegetable, fruit samples yield pesticide residues above permissible levels
An analysis of vegetables and fruits under the 'Safe to Eat' project covering Palakkad, Kannur and Kollam districts has revealed pesticide residues above permissible levels in 21.29% of the tested samples. The tests by the Pesticide Residue Research and Analytical Laboratory (PRRAL), a Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) facility at Vellayani here, found pesticide residues above the the limit prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India/Codex (FSSAI/Codex) in 43 of 202 samples that were collected and tested. Twenty-eight vegetable samples and 15 fruit samples yielded pesticide residues, according to the PRRAL report. The listed included okra, brinjal, capsicum, carrot, ginger, gooseberry, green chilli, potato, string beans, apple, sapota (chikoo), grapes, guava, mosambi, pomegranate, orange, strawberry, garlic and coriander leaves. For the latest edition of the report, tests were carried out in 16 block panchayats, ten municipalities and two corporations in Palakkad, Kannur and Kollam districts. They covered the period from January to March 2025. Tests revealed the presence of insecticides including monocrotophos, acephate, profenofos, acetamiprid, chlorantraniliprole, fenvalerate, imidacloprid, quinalphos, clothianidin, lambda-cyhalothrin, omethoate, ethion, and the fungicides including hexaconazole, fluopicolide, metalaxyl and tebuconazole. The previous report, which covered Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts based on an October-December 2024 survey, had found pesticide residues above permissible levels in 15.26% samples. In 2023, the State Agriculture department had revamped the collection of surveillance samples under the 'Safe to Eat' project. Under the new format, three districts are covered under each survey. The samples are collected by the Food Safety Department.
