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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 Process Engineering × Author: KAU × End date: 2016 × Start date: 2011 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Optimization of process parameters for vacuum drying of ripe jackfruit bulb (Artocarpus heterophyllus L.)
    (Department of Food and Agricultural Process Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2015) Padmavathi, D; KAU; Santhi, Mary Mathew
    Jackfruit is an underexploited fruit and commonly referred as poor man’s fruit. Jackfruit is rich in Vitamin A, B, C and minerals such as calcium and iron and is also having immense medicinal value. It is a rich source of carbohydrates, minerals, carboxylic acids and dietary fiber. Based on peroxidase test, catalase test, colour and texture attributes the steam blanching for 30 s was standardised as pre-treatment. This fruit is seasonal and the post harvest losses are as high as 30%. Therefore, there is a need to develop a suitable processing protocol to reduce losses and also to enhance the shelf life and to extend the availability of this precious bulb in a ready to eat form though out the year. The deseeded jackfruit bulb after the pretreatment was dried in a vacuum dryer at a fixed vacuum chamber pressure of 680 mm of Hg. The drying was done at temperatures of 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45°C. The vacuum chamber temperature of 40°C was standardized on the basis of quality parameters like pH, TSS (°Brix), vitamin C, colour, texture and rehydration ratio. The drying time required to reach a safe moisture content of 7.46 ± 0.27% (d.b) at 40°C was 10 h. Storage studies were conducted in 5 types of packaging materials such as polythene cover, LDPE 100, LDPE 300, LDPE 400 gauge and laminated aluminum foil with MAP of 30% O2 + 50% CO2 (with balance of N2) gas mixtures. The quality of the stored product was assessed in terms of moisture content, pH, TSS (°Brix), vitamin C, colour, texture, rehydration ratio and also by microbial analysis in every 15 days interval. Sensory analysis was also conducted as traits and was done based on Kendall’s coefficient of concordance tests. At the end of 30 days LDPE 400 gauge resulted in less loss of quality parameters. So deseeded jackfruit bulbs, steam blanched at 100°C for 30 s followed by vacuum drying at 40°C at a fixed vacuum chamber pressure of 680 mm of Hg for 10 h. The dried product packed in 400 gauge LDPE films can be stored at room temperature for 30 days without any quality deterioration.