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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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20121
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Subject: Agricultural Engineering × Author: Anu S, Chandran × Author: KAU × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Tech ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development and testing of a continuous power operated coconut husker
    (Department of Farm power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2012) Anu S, Chandran; KAU; Jayan, P R
    A continuous power operated coconut husking machine for large scale husking of coconuts was developed, tested and its performance evaluated. The major parts are feeding chute, a husking unit, a husk separating unit and power transmission unit. The coconut fed at the feeding chute and in the clearance between the inlet and the drum is slightly compressed and forced to execute rolling or revolutions. In the process, the blade penetrates the husk and punctures it along different planes. The shear force exerted upon the coconut by the blades of the rotating drum and the concave cause to rip open the husk along different planes. The full coconuts with punctured and softened husk fall into the husk separating unit which consists of two knurling rollers. There the softened and punctured husk is separated and the nut emerges at the outlet. The prime mover used is a 3 φ squirrel cage induction motor of 2.2 kW. This rotation is bifurcated to rotate the husking unit and to the separating unit. A speed reduction unit with gear ratio of 30:1 is used to reduce the motor speed from 1440 rpm to 48 rpm. The speed of the motor is also bypassed to the knurling rollers by means of chain drive, by which the speed is reduced from 1440 to 160 rpm through chain and sprockets units. All components are fixed on the frame. The studies show that the minimum and maximum time required for complete husking of a green coconut were 6 s and 22 s and that for a dry coconut was 3 s and 15 s respectively. Thus the mean time required for complete husking of green coconut is 11.6 s and that of dry coconut is 9.5 s. The average capacity of continuous power operated coconut husking machine is much better and found out as 356 nuts per hour compared to the manual method and by husking by commercial model. Also the efficiency, the percentage of nut breaking and the average energy requirement was 82.79 %, 3.83 % and 0.7365 W respectively. The total operating cost of continuous power operated coconut husking machine is Rs. 95.374 per hour and the cost of husking per nut is about Rs. 0.267. Considering its performances, the mechanism developed in this study is promising.