Browsing by Author "Kalavathi, S."

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    Cocoa cultivation(Malayalam)
    (2006) Kalavathi, S.
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    Community Based Adoption of Intercropping in Coconut Based Farming Systems of Kerala with Special Reference to Tuber Crops
    (2013) Kalavathi, S.; Krishnakumar, V.; Thomas, R.J.; George V. Thomas; Anithakumari, P.
    Tuber crops are highly suitable for intercropping in coconut gardens at all growth stages. Hence these crops were included as the major intercrops for enhancing the livelihood security of coconut farmers under two projects funded by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)/The Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) operated through Community Based Organizations (CBOs) under the aegis of Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI). The projects were implemented in four coconut communities,Thekkekkara (under NABARD), Pathiyoor, and Devikulangara of Alappuzha District and Thodiyoor of Kollam District of Kerala (IFAD). Data related to area under intercrops, extent of adoption, income derived from the intercrops and the utilization pattern were recorded before and after the project using a standardized questionnaire template during 2005-2012 period. Data collection was done through personal interview with 609 CBO members and the data were coded and analysed using SPSS. All the four coconut communities indicated significant increase in the area and percentage of holdings under tuber crops and income from tuber crops alone as well as other short duration intercrops in general over the project period. The overall data for all the four communities revealed 3.7 fold increase in area under tuber crops alone and 29% increase in the holdings under adoption of tuber crops, whereas it was 2.2 fold and 24% in the case of intercrops in general. The share of income from tuber crops to total intercrop income increased from 49 to 60% in Thekkekkara, while that of the other three communities in general remained the same (72%) over the project period. The pre and post utilization pattern in terms of the value of product revealed increase in all categories- sold, consumed, supplied in kind and seed material- for tubers alone and intercrops together in all the four communities. In general, the area, production as well as income from tuber crops showed significant improvements through community based adoption. The proportion of tuber crops consumed was much higher (more than 60% of the total production) in Thekkekkara, while more than 50% of the total production was sold in the other areas. The results thus highlight the scope of intensifying the cultivation of tuber crops as food and cash crops to enhance the livelihood security of the coconut farmers.
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    Community Extension Approach in Bio-management of Rhinoceros Beetle, the Major Pest of Coconut
    (2015) Anithakumari, P.; Muralidharan, K.; Kalavathi, S.
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    Community-level management of bio-resources for augmenting income from coconut-based farming systems in Kerala state, India
    (2020) Kalavathi, S.; Jeena Mathew; Indhuja, S.; Merin Babu; Muralidharan, K.
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    Constraints in adoption of integrated management for root (wilt) disease affected coconut areas - An analysis of Alleppey district
    (2012) Anitha Kumari, P.; Muralidharan, K.; Kalavathi, S.; Remabai, S.
    Analysis of the constraints faced by the farming community in root (wilt) affected area was done during 2010-2011 at Alleppey district, Kerala, India. It was found that irrespective of the holding size only 50 percent of the coconut trees were in bearing stage whereas around one third were seedlings and one fifth pre bearing stage. Adoption of recommended practices were statistically significant with the area under coconut cultivation. The farmers identified 30 major constraints which were categorized as technical, input, economic, social and biophysical constraints in order of importance. Participation of the coconut farmers in meetings related to farming was only 18.9 percent and participation in training programmes was meager and only 10 percent of the sample respondents were members in any farmer groups. The results indicated need for coconut farmers' clusters/ societies for improving technology adoption in community basis.
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    Diversification for Livelyhood Security:Experiences from Major Coconut Growing Countries
    (2012) Kalavathi, S.; Erlene Manohar; Peyanoot Naka; Vo Van Long; Krishnakumar, V.; Thomas, R.J.; George V. Thomas; Maria Luz George
    This paper presents the success of community based organizations in achieving sustainability in marginal coconut holdings through diversification of crops and enterprises along with conservation of local varieties.The project was implemented in 19 communities of 10 coconut growing countries and findings from four major coconut growing countries, which had significant project outcome- India, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam -are discussed in the present paper.All the four major coconut growing countries recorded a significant difference in total household income over the project period.Among the four countries,India and Philippines had a significant difference in mean income derived from intercrops,India and Thailand for livestock integration and India and Vietnam for off-farm activities. Herfindahl index for indicating economic diversity of households revealed a significant diversification of income for India as well as the overall data for the four countries. A higher level of education and more available land also positively influenced total income.In general, improvements in income were better with bigger-sized farms and households, with male household heads.The overall data revealed significant improvement in food and nutritional security with clearest impacts in India and Philippines due to project efforts. Participation of women in trainings and interventions was the highest in India, followed by Thailand.
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    Diversification of coconut based farming system through community based organizations for income generation and sustaining productivity
    (2013-12) Krishnakumar, V.; Kalavathi, S.; Regi Jacob Thomas; George V. Thomas
    Community based organizations (CBO) were formed in three coconut growing areas in Kerala during 2005-2008 and through farmer participatory process, various technological interventions for diversification of cropping system appropriate to the local community as well as subsidiary enterprises were taken up for income generation. The interventions included (a) intercropping with various crop species (cash and food security crops) aiming at year round farm income, (b) subsidiary enterprise comprising of animal husbandry component, (c) product diversification and value addition of coconut and intercrops as well as, (d) recycling of waste biomass through vermicomposting. The project not only brought out significant change in area put under crop diversification by way of inter/mixed cropping, but also in the average income derived from such farming system. Significant improvement in income was achieved through crop and enterprise diversification. While inclusion of various intercrops improved the share by 83 per cent compared to the income from coconut alone, it was up by 195 per cent when subsidiary enterprises like rearing of live stock and value addition were also considered, thus indicating the sustainability of crop and enterprise diversification in the project areas. The significant reduction in the value of Herfindahl Index, a measure of diversification, from 0.70 to 0.57 signified the improvement in the extent of diversification in various CBOs. Diversification of crops and adoption of coconut-based subsidiary enterprises through CBOs were found to be ideal strategies for sustaining productivity and rural upliftment in terms of income generation.
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    Diversification of livelihood for the marginal coconut farmers: A replicable model
    (2010) Kalavathi, S.; Krishnakumar, V.; Regi Jacob Thomas; George V. Thomas; Maria Luz George
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    Evaluation and refinement of community approaches in coconut technology transfer
    (2011) Kalavathi, S.; Anitha Kumari, P.
    Evaluation on the performance and sustenance of coconut clusters revealed better group characteristics and capacity development in the case of clusters facilitated by Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) and Coconut Development Board (CDB) and their performance also were rated as good against the objectives set. Even though the performance of the rubber producers group was the highest among all, the present status of the coconut groups facilitated by CPCRI and CDB are highly encouraging in terms of their performance, increased knowledge, skills, improved behavioural changes and their strong and responsible leadership, being in the early period of development. Further, the coconut groups have several limitations like unorganized markets, inadequate government support limited to project periods and lack of a permanent establishment and infrastructural facilities for storage and processing, unlike the well established commodity clusters. Based on the inferences drawn, an integrated model coconut cluster at the panchayat level by linking the ward level coconut clusters through a common support centre with continued government support for input use and marketing for effective functioning and sustenance is suggested.
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    Farmer Initiatves in ICT Use for Information Exchange
    (2016) Anithakumari, P.; Muralidharan, K.; Thamban, C.; Kalavathi, S.
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    Ilaneerin anuyojyamaya thenginangal
    (2017) Jacob, thomas; Shareef, M.; Kalavathi, S.
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    Improving food and nutritional security of small and marginal coconut growers through diversification of crops and enterprises
    (2010) Kalavathi, S.; Krishnakumar, V.; Regi Jacob Thomas; George V. Thomas; Maria Luz George
    This paper presents the impact of integrating interventions like nutrition gardening, livestock rearing, product diversification and allied income generation activities in small and marginal coconut homesteads along with nutrition education in improving the food and nutritional security as well as the income of the family members. The activities were carried out through registered Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in three locations in Kerala, India during 2005-2008. Data was collected before and after the project periods through interviews using a pre-tested questionnaire containing statements indicating the adequacy, quality and diversity of food materials. Fifty respondents each were randomly selected from the three communities, thereby resulting in a total sample size of 150. The data was analysed using SPSS by adopting statistical tools like frequency, average, percentage analysis, t – test and regression. Participatory planning and implementation of diverse interventions notably intercropping and off-farm activities along with nutrition education brought out significant improvements in the food and nutritional security, in terms of frequency and quantity of consumption as well as diet diversity. At the end of the project, 96%of the members became completely food secure and 72% nutritionally secure. The overall consumption of fruits, vegetables and milk by both children and adults and egg by children recorded increase over the project period. Consumption of fish was more than the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) level during pre and post project periods. Project interventions like nutrition gardening could bring in surplus consumption of vegetables (35%) and fruits (10%) than RDI. In spite of the increased consumption of green leafy vegetables and milk and milk products over the project period, the levels of consumption were still below the RDI levels. CBO-wise analysis of the consumption patterns revealed the need for location-specific interventions matching to the needs and preferences of the communities.
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    Indigenous knowledge in coconut and arecanut cultivation
    (2002-02) Arulraj, S.; Thamban, C.; Anitha Kumari, P.; Kalavathi, S.
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    Level of Knowledge of Coconut Farmers and Level of Adoption of Technologies
    (2007-02) Kalavathi, S.; Anitha Kumari, P.
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    National Seminar Advances in Biological Suppression of Pests September 22, 2021 Venue : ICAR-CPCRI RS, Kayamkulam
    (2021) Joseph Rajkumar, A.; Anes, K.M.; CPR Nair; Chandrika Mohan; Thajudin S.; Sunny Thomas; Merin Babu; Kalavathi, S.
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    Red Palm Weevil Detector
    (2021-02) Joseph Rajkumar, A.; Chandrika Mohan; Jijo Paul; Jayalakshmi, T.; Rajendran, K.; Vinayaka Hegde; Kalavathi, S.; Anitha Karun