Extraordinary Gazette Date :03.08.2004
Last Date : 15.09.2004
Category No.133/2004
(1) Applications are invited from qualified Agricultural Demonstrators (Agricultural Assistants re-designated) in the Agriculture Department for admission to the Suitability Test for appointment as Junior Agricultural Officer (Agricultural Officer Grade II) prescribed in G.O.(Ms) No.282/63/Agri dated 16.3.1963 as amended.
(2) Admission to the test is open to Agricultural Demonstrators (Agricultural Assistants) in the Agriculture Department having five years of service irrespective of the fact whether they belong to Selection GradeI, or Grade II (G.O. Ms.187/70/Agri. dated: 24.4.70).
Note:-The 10% quota reserved for Village Extension Officers in the Community Development Department fopr appointment by transfer as Agricultural Officer Grade II in Agriculture Department is dispensed with (G.O.Ms.No.285/89/Agri./ dated: 13.11.89).
(3) The syllabus of the test as prescribed in G.O.Ms.No.142/64/Agri. dated: 21.2.64 is given as Appendix I to this notification. A list of reference books recommended to the candidates is given as Appendix II. The date, time and place of the test will be published in due course.
(4) The test will consist of one Written Paper (without books) in English/Malayalam of 3 (three) hours of duration carrying 100 marks.
A minimum of 50% marks will be insisted for a pass in the test.
(G.O. Ms.142/64/Agri. dated 21.2.64)
(5) Application Form
Candidates should apply in the form exclusively prescribed for
‘Suitability Tests’. The application forms are available at the Head Office & District Offices of the Commission on payment of Rs.10/-(Rupees Ten Only). The words “ Application for admission to the Suitability Test for Agricultural Assistants for appointment as Agricultural Officer Grade II” should be superscribed on top of the envelope. The name and address of the applicant as well as the category number should be furnished on the left hand corner of the envelope.
(6) Application duly attested by the Head of Department/Head of Office concerned shall be forwarded to “Deputy Secretary, Examination Wing III, Kerala Public Service Commission, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram-4 and should reach the office not later than 5 p.m. on the last date fixed for receipt of application.
(7) Note:- Candidates are not required to send their application through the Head of Department/Head of Office. Application countersigned by the Head of Department/Office may be sent by the candidates direct to this office (along with the required documents).
Application not countersigned by the Head of Department/Office showing his name and designation will be rejected.
(8) Last Date for receipt of application: Upto 5 P.m.on 15.9.2004, Wednesday, 2004.
SYLLABUS
1. Kind of Soils found in different tracts of the State, Crops suited to them and how to increase the production in such soils. Effect of weather conditions on soils and crops.
2. Soil Conservation – causes and types of soil erosion, extent of loss, common measures to check etc.
3. Acid, Alkali and Water logged lands method of reclamation.
4. Soil Fertility-causes of deplition maintenance of soil fertility.
5. Utilisation of cow dung and cattle urine for manure.
6. Green manuring and its importance in the programme of increasing soil fertility. Important Green Manure Crops and their suitability for different soils and climatic conditions.
7. Important Chemical Fertilizers-single, Complete and mixed and their uses.
8. Methods and Practices for conservation of soil moisture, System of Irrigation etc.
9. Characterisation of a good seed. Multiplication and Distribution of improved seeds.
10. Food Crops of Kerala and possibilities of increased production.
11. Cash Crops of Kerala and the possibilities of increased production.
12. Development Programmes of cash crops in the paln.
13. Major pests in diseases of important crops and their control.
14. Rubber Development Schemes in Kerala.
15. Soil Testing Service.
16. Crop Rotation, Principles and Advantages, Important Crop Rotation.
17. Vegetable Cultivation, Raising Vegetable Crops, Raising of Seeds of important Vegetable Crops, Important Crops of Kerala.
18. Principles of laying out orchards-selection of site –
Different Systems of lay out, Digging of Pits and their Filling – Care and handling of plants and planting – method of Irrigation, manuring etc.
19. Causes of low yields in orchards and their remedies.
20. Vana Mahotsava – Its significance, Organisation, Arrangement for Supplies and follow up.
21. Causes of spread of pests and diseases. Different methods of control.
(a) Cultural (b) Biological
(c) Mechanical (d) Chemical
22. Important Insecticides and Fungicides and their uses. Preparation of Boardeaux Mixture of varying strength.
23. Crop Planning for individual holdings of different sizes
24. Crop Planning for :
(a) Irrigated areas
(b) Non-irrigated areas excluding areas with low precipitation.
(c) Intensive farming
(d) Mixed farming
25. Importance of Crop competitions, rules of crop competitions and how to organise them.
26. Major, Medium and Minor irrigation works with special emphasis on facilities provided by state for minor irrigation works.
27. Factors affecting returns from farming.
28. Role of marketing in agricultural production, warehousing corporation, state trading in food grains.
29. The package programme.
30. Object of demonstration, types of demonstration, method of laying out demonstration. Presentation of the results of demonstration to the farmers and records to be maintained. Common defects noticed in demonstrations how to avoid them.
31. Fundamentals of farm planning – suitable economic crop patterns for different regions.
32. Development of local manurial resources – Scope ways and means to increase the production advantages.
33. Co-operation in farming, Co-operative farming, Joint farming, Co-operative Credit, Co-operative marketing etc.
34. Lemon grass and other essential oil plants-present cultivation, status in the world market possibilities of improvement.
35. Pepper, Ginger and Cardamom.
36. The main pulses of Kerala – the present programme in the state-its importance in increasing production intensification of cultivation.
1. Extension Education process and the role in Community Development.
2. Assessing basic needs – Deciding on priorities.
3. Peoples participation in programme planning-ways and means of involving the people in the programme.
4. Community Organisation and its problems – extension work through groups.
5. Organising and working with Village Institutions.
6. Building up local leadership in youth clubs and their training.
7. Selection and training of leaders – Basic patterns of leaders, group relationship in a society.
8. Concept of Welfare State – Idea of planned economy
National Planning – Five Year Plans – First and Second Plans – Third Five Year Plan etc.
Objectives, Priorities, Resources etc.
9. Study of Family and Village Plans – Village Production Plans – District and State Plans – Importance of Programme Planning at Village level.
10. Measuring of evaluation – Nature of and need for evaluation , Principles and Procedures of evaluation, Different kinds of evaluations, Application of evaluation to block works.
1. Bhoodan, Gramadan and Survodaya Movements in relation to Community Development Programme.
2. Functions of Service Co-operatives.
3. Co-operative farming – Meaning – Need in the Country Plan Development – Progress in this State and Country.
4. Essential ingredients of a successful co-operative farm – Increased Production, Increased employment and Increased income.
5. Role of Panchayat for furthering the Community Welfare and Agricultural Production Programmes – Roles of Block Staff under Panchayat Raj.
6. Importance of livestock in the economy of the country.
APPENDIX II
1. A Text Book of Agriculture – Smith
2. South Indian Fruits and their culture – K.C. Naik
3. Elements of Soil Conservation – High Hammed Bennethe
4. Irrigation Principles and Practices – J.B. Davidson
5. Green Manuring – T.J. Mirchandans
6. Field Crops of India – A.K. Yadja Narayana Ayer
7. Soil & Soil Fertility – Louis M Thampan
8. Manures and Manuring – J.A. Daji
9. Farm Production Plan – Farm Information Unit, Delhi
10. Insect Control Chemicals – A.W.A. Brown
11. Plant Diseases – Indian Council of Agricultural Research
12. Vegetable Growing – Indian Council of Agricultural Research
13. Plant Protection Guide – D.Bap Reddy
14. Third Five Year Plan Scheme for Agriculture – Department of Agriculture , Kerala State.
PART – B
1. Agriculture Extension – Jagadish Saren Garg
2. Notes on Extension in Agriculture – Ivan.G.Fay
3. Group Dynamic – Burton Strass
4. National Extension Service and C.D.Programme – Community Development, Government of India.
5. Village Improvement and Agriculture Extension – Yegna Narayanan
6. Extension work in Co-operative Movement – A.F.Laidlaw
PART – C
1. Theory and Practice of Co-operation Vols. I, II – K.R.Kulkorni
2. What is Co-operation – James Peter
3. Co-operation at a Glance – Ministry of Community Development and Co-operation
4. The problems of Co-operative Farming in India – A.M.Khusio
5. Co-operative Farming and Service Societies in India - G.R.Mudan
6. Community Development through Panchayat Raj –S.K. Dey
7. Panchayat Raj – S.K.Dey
8. Agricultural Problems in India – Patil.B.A.
9. U.P.Panchayat Raj Rules