KRISHI VIGYAN KENDRA-KASARAGOD

360 degree view

This KVK for the Kasaragod district in the northern part of Kerala was established on 01 January 1993under the administrative control of ICAR-CPCRI. It is situated in Chowki, about five kilometers away from Kasaragod town on NH 66 towards Mangalore. KVK-Kasaragod was bestowed with the prestigious Best Krishi Vigyan Kendra Award for the biennium 2002-2003 at National level for its contributions in the field of agriculture and allied activities rendered to the farming community through its outreach programmes.

KVK offers trainings for farmers, farm women and youth in the district to bring about desirable changes in their knowledge, skills and attitudes based on felt needs and wants. Further, KVK extends training to the field level extension functionaries on recent advances in agriculture and allied sectors so as to ensure proper, timely and quick diffusion of technologies for sustainable production and productivity. The mandatory activitiesof KVK’s such as On Farm Testing of technologies (OFT), Front Line Demonstrations (FLD) and Transfer of Technology activities. In brief, KVK-Kasaragod is functioning for the greater cause of overall development of the farming community of the district since its inception in 1993.

DISTRICT PROFILE

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DISTRICT PROFILE OF KASARAGOD: THE LAND OF UNITY IN DIVERSITY

Lying at the northern tip of Kerala, bounded by the Western Ghats in the east and Arabian Sea in the west and twelve rivers flowing across its terrain, Kasaragod is an enchanting beauty of Nature. There are different views on the etymology of "KASARAGOD": it may be the combination of two Sanskrit words kaasaara (which means lake or pond) and kroda (which means a place where treasure is kept) or it is the place where Kaasaraka trees (Strychnos nux vomica or Kaanjiram) are in abundance. It is true either way as there are large number of rivers, lakes and ponds in the coastal belt of the district, besides the thick flora consisting of innumerable varieties of trees, shrubs etc. particularly a plenitude of Kaasaraka trees.

Kasaragod offers a variety of art forms which speaks volumes on the rich cultural heritage of the region. The spectacular pageant of Theyyam deities raises Kasargod into a land of fabulous fantasies. The symphonic melody created by Yakshgana of the Tulunadu culture, along with the thrilling poorakkali, Kolkali, Duff Mutt, Oppana is absolutely enchanting. The Kasargod is a land of different languages with Malayalam, Tulu, Kannada, Konkani, Marati, Biary and Tamil, with the native population south of Chandragiri speaking mainly Malayalam and north predominantly speaking Tulu.

Formation of the Kasaragod district, triggering development

Kasaragod became a part of the present state of Kerala following the reorganization of states and formation of Kerala in November, 1956. The district was Kasaragod taluk in Kannur district. Fulfilling the long-felt aspirations of the people, and with an intention of bestowing maximum attention on the development of the backward area, Kasaragod district was formed on 24th May, 1984 as the 14th district of Kerala by carving out a major portion of the erstwhile Kannur district

Major towns in Kasaragod district are Nileswar, Kanhangad, Kasaragod, Uppala, Kumbala, Cheruvathur and Thrikaripur. Being the northernmost district of Kerala, Kasaragod is located at Click Here

Average elevation is 19 metres (62 feet). As of now, Kasaragod has 6 block panchayats, viz; Karadka, Manjeswar, Kasaragod, Kanhangad, Parappa and Nileswar and 38 Grama panchayats, and 3 Municipalities viz; Kasaragod, Kanhangad and Nileswar.

Geography

The district is marked off from the adjoining areas by the Western Ghats which run parallel to the sea and constitute an almost continuous mountain wall on the eastern side. The ghats dominate the topography. The coastline is fringed with low cliffs alternating with stretches of sand. A few miles to the interior, the scene changes and the sand level rises towards the barrier of the Ghats and transforms into low red laterite hills interspersed with paddy fields and coconut gardens. Based on physical features, the district falls in to three natural divisions: the low land bordering the sea, the mid land consisting of the undulating country and the forest-clad high land on the extreme east. There are mainly four types of soils namely, sandy, sand loam, laterite and hill or forest soil.

Adoor, Eleri, Karudukka, Maloth, Parappa, Panathady and Muliyar are some of the reserve forests in the district. These forest areas have different types of medicinal plants and shrubs. The river-sea joining lands were once abundant with Mangrove forests; But, now they are seen only in Chittari, Manjeshwar, Mogral, Uppala, Shiriya rivers. There are 12 rivers in this district. The longest is Chandragiri (105 kms) originating from Pattimala in Coorg and embraces the sea at Thalangara, near Kasargod.

Weather Data

The climate of the district is classified as warm, humid and tropical. The average maximum temperature is 31.2oC and minimum is 23.6oC.

Demographics

As per the census , Kasaragod district has a population of 1,307,375, roughly equal to the nation of Mauritius or the US state of New Hampshire. This gives it a ranking of 375th in India (out of a total of 779) . The district has a population density of 654 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,690/sq mi). It’s Family planning in India over the decade 2001–2011 was 8.18%. Kasaragod has a Sex ratioof 1079 Women in India for every 1000 males, and a literacy of 89.85%.

Land use pattern and importance of agriculture

Agriculture forms the mainstay of the population of the district. The soil in the three natural divisions generally fall under three types. Diversity of crops and heterogeneity in cultivation are the key notes of agriculture here. The eastern tract comprises of forests and hilly areas. The hilly areas are mostly cleared and put to private cultivation; the important crops being rubber, cashew and ginger. In the skeletal plateau areas, cashew trees are cultivated, while in some patches, arecanut, pepper and cocoa are grown. In the coastal tract, paddy, coconut, arecanut, cashew, tobacco, vegetable and tapioca are cultivated. Average size of land holding is 0.469 ha according to 1990-91 census, with the marginal/small holdings (less than 1 ha) predominant (84.7 %). Fisheries sector has wide scope for development in Kasargod which has a long sea coast (80 kms) extending from Trikaripur to Bangra-Manjeshwar. There are many fish landing centers in this district and transporting facilities.