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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively. Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively. On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs. In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc. During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.

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Subject: Agricultural Engineering × Author: Abdassalam, M × End date: 2009 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development of cocoa drier
    (Department of Agricultural Engineering, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1985) Abdassalam, M; KAU; John Thomas, K
    An investigation for the development of an electrically heated, multistage, agitation type cocoa drier, suitable for the Kerala conditions for drying of cocoa beans without impairing the quality, was conducted in the Agricultural Engineering Department of the College of Horticulture under the Kerala Agricultural University. The mini box fermentation method developed in Kerala Agricultural University was selected for fermentation of the beans. The fermented cocoa beans were dried in the sun. The process of sun drying continued upto seven days. The pH of dried beans was 5.2, which was very close to the pH range, 5.3 to 5.5 for good quality beans as per international standards. Hence, the quality of the beans was considered satisfactory. A bulb heated drier developed earlier in K.A.U. was tested* The capacity of the drier tested was 30 kg of fermented beans. The bean could be dried to the desired moisture content in 38 hours. The moisture content of the dried beans was about eight per cent. From the result it was found that for drying one kg of fermented beans approximately 0.760 K.W.H. of electrical energy was required. pH of the dried beans was 5.00. The bulb heated drier was modified and fitted with a 500 watts electric coil heater was also tested. Beans were dried to the desired moisture content in 34 hours. Moisture content of the dried beans was about eight per cent. The result showed that approximately 0.57 K.W.H. of electrical energy was required for drying one kg of fermented beans. The quality of the dried bean was satisfactory because pH of the dried beans was 5.0.The cost of drying per kg of fermented beans was Re.0.47. A modified C.P.C.R.I. model drier of capacity 60 kg of fermented beans was fabricated, tested and economics worked out. For attaining the required moisture content of about eight per cent, the time taken was 64 hours. The result revealed that approximately 0.533 K.W.H. of electrical energy and an amount of Re. 0.36, was required for drying one kg of fermented beans. pH of the dried bean was 5.1 and hence quality of the dried bean was also satisfactory. The modified C.P.C.R.I. model drier fitted with an half h.p. electric motor and a blower was also tested.Beans were dried to the desired moisture content in 42 hours. The result showed that for drying one kg of fermented beans approximately 0.610 K.W.H. of electrical energy was required. Cost of drying per kg of fermented bean was Re. 0.56, Quality of the dried bean was satisfactory since pH was 5.2. An agitation type electrically heated multistage drier of 90 kg capacity was designed, fabricated, tested and its economics was worked out. Tests were carried out with two quantities of cocoa (i.e. 90 kg, and 60 kg), 3 3 different quantity of air (i.e. 0.4 m /second, 0.2 m / second) and varying temperatures (i.e. 56°C, 47°C and 42°C). Air temperature and humidity at various sections of the drier were noted. Also the weight loss of the bean at every hour of drying was noted by using an infrared moisture meter, and the final pH of the dried bean by using a pH meter. From the experiment, using various quantities of beans, with different temperature and air flow, it was found that for drying 90 kg of cocoa beans a temperature of 47°C and air flow rate of 0,4 m3/sec was optimum, for this type of drier. The energy consumed/kg of bean was appromimately 0.69 K.W.H. The pH of the dried beans was found to be 5.3 and hence the quality of the dried bean was satisfactory. Cost of drying per kg of fermented bean was Re. 0.45. One of the objectives of this project was to evolve suitable design of an equipment for drying large quantities of cocoa beans. With this in view an agitation type multistage drier of 2000 kg capacity of fermented beans was designed. Prom the cost analysis it was seen that the cost of drying one kg of bean was only Re. 0.22. The cost of the drier was about Rs.23,000/-. The advantage of agitation type multistage drier are as follows. As the beans were moving in the drier better uniformity in drying was achieved and they were not exposed to high temperature continuously which helped in maintaining the quality of the beans. The drying time was reduced considerably. Energy consumption was less and cost of drying was only 50 per cent compared to other driers. Due to stage by stage drying the loss of heat is reduced and hence the thermal efficiency is high.