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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 Entomology × Author: Ajithkumar, T N × Author: KAU × End date: 1999 × Start date: 1990 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Biology and biometric studies on Apis cerana indica F. and Apis mellifera ligustica Spin.
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1998) Ajithkumar, T N; KAU; Rajan Asari, P A
    With a view to generate detailed basic information on the biology, biometrics and natural enemies of Indian and Italian bees in Kerala an experiment was carried out at the Apiary of Kcrala J\gricultural University, College of J\gricultUf'e, Vcllayani, lrom September 1995 to August 1996. The yellow strain of Italian bees, Apis mellifera linguistica L and Indian bees Apis ceraua indica were used for the study. An abstract of the result is given below. III all the castes the egg period took almoxt :1 days The larval period of 11. niellifera workers ranged from 582 to 5.93 days, the pupal period ranged from 10.55 to 11.15 days and total developmental period from 19.6 to 20.66. The larval period of drones took 6.96' to 7. 17 days, pupal period took 13. 14 to 13.28 days and total developmental period took 23.54 to 25.53 days. The mean larval period of A. cerana indica workers varied nom 5.86 to 5.91 clays, pupal period varied from 1017 to 10.20 days and total developmental period varied from 18.89 to 19.11 days The larval period of drones ranged lrom 6.95 to 7.09 days, pupal period ranged Irom 12.99 to 13.23 days and total developmental period ranged from 2277 to 23J4 days The mean larval, pupal and total developmental period in case of A tnellifcra queens were 4.66, 7.2 and 14.54 days and in case of A. cerana indica 484, 7.12 and 14.74 days respectively. The egg size of different castes of both the bees remained the same throughout the egg period. The sizes (length x breadth) of I, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days old worker larvae ------------ were 2.06 x 0.59,4.67 x 1.22, 7.63 x 2.41, 10.58 x 3.64 and 13.75 x 5.01 for A. mellifera and 1.93 x 0.55, 5.46 x 1.78, 7.98 x 2.34, 7.98 x 3.79 and 8.81 x 4.22 mm for A. cerana indica respectively. The sizes of larvae increased from 3.4 x 0.83 mm in the very first day of hatching to 16.68 x 7.21 mm in the sixth day in drones of A. mellifera and from 2.58 x 0.7 mm to 11.75 x 6.97 mm in case of drones of A. cerana indica. The size increase continued upto first day after capping in both the castes. Mean average eggs laid by A. mellifera ranged from 162 in December to 7] 8 in August. The average annual performance was 184430 eggs. A. cerana indica queens laid on an average 247 eggs daily and 88086 eggs in an year. The mean longevity of A. mellifera workers ranged from 28.22 days for April 10 born bees to 30.97 days for June 16 born bees. The longevity of A. cerana indica workers ranged from 33.46 days for April 11 born bees to 33.32 days for June 16 born bees. The mean longevity of A. cerana indica drone bees born on April 11 was 34.58 days. Among the natural enerrues, hornets, mite, bee eater birds and death head moths were observed in A. mellifera colonies. Hornet (Vespa orientalis)attack was more during May to December between 7 AM and 10 AM of the day. Few wax moth (Galleria mellonellai larvae were observed during brood rearing season though no damage was noticed. Death head moth ( Acherontia sryx) were observed from September to November. Brood mite (Tropilaeps darae) was observed throughout the year though it was more severe during major brood rearing season. The bee eater birds (Merops orientalis) were seen active during the months of October to February. In A. cerana indica colonies hornets, wax moth and Thai sac brood disease were observed. Hornet and wax moth incidence followed the same pattern as in A. mellifera. Thai sac brood virus disease was more severe during September to November.