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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: Fisheries × Author: Regina Jasmine, M × End date: 2004 × Start date: 2001 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Infestation of isopode parasites on prawns of the genus Macrobrachium Bate (Palaemonidae) of Cochin region
    (Department of Fishery Biology, College of Fisheries, Panangad, 2004) Regina Jasmine, M; KAU; Jayachandran, K V
    The major objective of the research work is to study the taxonomy, species diversity, host specificity, intensity of infestation, length - weight relationship and reproductive biology of bopyrid parasite infesting the genus Macrobrachium Bate, 1868 of the Cochin region. Collections were taken from 3 stations Perumbavoor (Periyar River) and Panangad (Vembanad lake) for a period of 13 months (July 2002 to July 2003) and Champakkara (Vembanad lake) for a period of one year (October 2003 to September 2004). The study revealed that of the five species of Macrobrachium inhabiting water bodies of Cochin region, only two species were found infested with bopyrids. Macrobrachium idella was infested with Palaegyge alcocki whereas M. scabriculum with a new variety, P. alcocki var. novo cochinensis. This shows that bopyrid infestation is species specific. Diagnostic characters of both the parasite species are given in the text. Regarding the intensity of infestation, prawns from the Perumbavoor region of Periyar River had maximum infestation in comparison with other regions (Panangad and Champakkara). The infestation during different months also revealed the same trend. It indicates that infestation is more at the freshwater region than at the estuarine region. Relationships between length and weight of infested M. idella, P. alcocki separated from the host, total length of host and parasite, total length of male and female parasite, carapace length of the host and total length of male as well as female parasite are all statistically significant. . The study has brought out the ways of association of male and female parasites as well as attachment of female parasite to the host. Mature female parasite has been distinguished from the immature. Fecundity studies revealed that the number of eggs produced by the parasite ranges from 8148 (1 cm total length, 0.9 cm total width, 0.12 g total weight) to 29,683 (1.2 cm total length, 1.0 cm total width, 0.168 g total weight). Number of ova per milligram body weight ranged from 67.9 to 185.518 (126.709 average). Relationships between fecundity and total length, total weight, total width and total weight of brood of the parasite are all significant. The chapter on reproductive biology reveals important observations on marsupial brooding, ovulation, embryonic development and incubation, hatching and epicaridea stage of P. alcocki. The last chapter is on the effect of parasitism on the host. Here the aggressive behaviour of infested host, parasitic castration, degeneration of gills and secondary infections are dealt with in some detail.