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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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2010 - 20112
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Subject: Aquaculture × Start date: 2010 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Survey and disease surveillance of newly introduced L. Vannamei (Boone, 1931) in India
    (College of Fisheries, Panangad, 2011) Roshan Maria, Peter; KAU; Devika, Pillai
    P. monodon (tiger shrimp) was the most preferred cultured species in India, but repeated occurrence of diseases especially white spot disease (WSD) caused by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) had a severe setback to the shrimp culture industry. This prompted the industry to actively promote the introduction of a non-native species, the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, as an alternative to P. monodon for commercial aquaculture operations in the country. The authority to issue licenses to take up L.vannamei culture was vested with the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA), who issued licenses for 1,208 aqua farmers in 2009. Availability of SPF stock, ability to grow well even at high stocking densities, reduced days of culture (DOC), lesser protein requirement (28-35%) and demand in the international market attracted aquafarmers to switch to culture of L.vannamei. A survey carried out in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh to understand the level of acceptance and the nature of culture practice among the farms culturing L.vannamei revealed that only 33% of the farms surveyed had obtained permission from the CAA, 41% followed biosecurity measures and merely 10% had the facility for Effluent Treatment System. 53% practised chlorination and de-chlorination of water during water exchange and only 38% farms maintained trained personnel. It was observed during the survey that only 84% procured tested SPF seed from certified hatcheries. While 90-92% of yhe farms depended on pelleted feed, only 80-85% of the farms surveyed carried out regular monitoring every 1-2 weeks. Disease surveillance in the farms surveyed did not detect the presence of any of the major shrimp viruses (WSSV, IHHNV, MBV, HPV and TSV) in the 60 samples screened using molecular methods. However, Vibrio sp. was detected in samples exhibiting obvious signs of bacterial disease. High stocking densities without adequate number of aerators can be stressful to the shrimps and might be the reason for bacterial infection. Economic analysis indicates that L.vannamei culture is more profitable than P.monodon culture.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Comparative evaluation of different feed ingradients for stinging catfish heteropneustes fossilis(Bloch)
    (College of Fisheries, Panangad, 2010) Kumar, Katya; KAU; Mohanakumaran, Nair
    Stinging catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) is commercially and nutritionally important in India, fetching high price locally and enjoying good potential for aquaculture. One of the major limiting factors restricting the expansion of H. fossilis culture is the high cost of trash fish used as feed for its grow out. Trash fish supply is irregular and unreliable and not always recommended in fish culture. In the present study an attempt was made to evaluate different feed combination as replacement diet for trash fish in the growout of H. fossilis using three sources of protein. Three isonitrogenous diets containing 40% of protein viz. fish meal (FM), clam meat (CM) and soymeal (SM) as protein sources were tested, with five replications for each treatment, and fed to the fingerlings of H. fossilis of initial size.(11.22 ± 1.27g and 12.24 ± 0.40 cm), collected from the wild and acclimated for two weeks in freshwater and stocked in 380L capacity cement cisterns at a density of 10 numbers per tank, provided with soil substratum. Tapioca flour and vitamin mixture were added at the rate of 10% and 1% respectively in all the feeds, while rice bran constituted 36%, 18.6% and 23.3% in FM, CM and SM feeds respectively. The test feeds were fed to the fingerlings at the rate of 5% of body weight, twice daily for duration of 42 days. At the end of the trial, final length and weight measurement of each juvenile in treatments were made, and the data statistically analyzed, using One-Way ANOVA. Multiple comparisons of mean values were carried out using Tukey’s HSD test, and the means were compared using two sample Student’s t-test. Water quality parameters in the experimental tanks were monitored weekly. All the treatments recorded cent percent survival, and there was no significant difference in length gain among the three feeds. Although the highest weight gain was obtained from the FM (8.56 ± 2.40g), followed by SM (6.09 ±1.40g) and CM (5.68 ± 0.72g) respectively, statistical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference between FM and SM treatments, indicating that soymeal is equally good as fish meal. However the lowest food conversion ratio (FCR) of (2.74) for FM, followed by CM (4.07), and SM (4.53), which suggest that fish meal is the best source of protein in the feed for the culture of H. fossilis, but soymeal could also be used to replace fish meal, upon further refinement of growth trials. Highest ammonia was recorded in FM tanks, followed by CM and SM, which indicate that water quality needs to be closely maintained, when sources of animal protein are used in the feed of H. fossilis. Additional research is recommended, supplementing the deficient amino acid lysine in soymeal, which might perhaps improve the weight gain and FCR of H. fossilis fingerlings.