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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: Farm, Machinery and Power × Author: KAU × End date: 1999 × Start date: 1996 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development and testing of a large diameter pit digger for laterite terrain
    (Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 1996) Preman, P S; KAU; Jippu, Jacob
    A large diameter pit digger was developed as an attachment to tractor for making large size pits in laterite suitable for planting saplings of trees especially for coconut palms. It was tested and evaluated at the Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engg. & Tech., Tavanur. The pit digger mainly consisted of a tractor rear-mounted twin-blade laterite cutter. The twin-blade laterite cutter essentially consisted of two circular blades, a main shaft, two cast iron hubs, two bearings and bearing blocks, power transmission elements, a main frame, two protective shields and one stopper. A 3 phase, 3-hp electric motor of 1440 rpm at a speed at a speed ratio of 2.1:1 was used for rotating the blades. By using a jib crane twin-blade laterite cutter was hitched to the three point hitch system of a tractor. Pit having approximately a square-horizontal cross-section and stepped or rebated downwards in four steps was made in laterite. Size of pit obtained was 1290 x 1190 mm at the top and 830 x 623 mm at the bottom with a total depth of 900 mm. The volume of pit was 0.914 m3. The capacity of machine was 2.24 pits of 0.914 m3 in a day of 8 h. For making a pit of 0.914 m3, the total electrical energy consumption was 4.111 kWh and the diesel fuel consumed by tractor was 18.5 L. The cost of digger excluding cost of motor, jib crane and tractor was Rs. 3800. The operating cost of the digger was Rs. 140.61 per hour and the cost of making one pit was Rs. 453.23. After taking in to account of the cost recovered due to the 41 laterite blocks obtained while making the pit, the net cost of making a pit was Rs. 207.12.