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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: Food Science and Nutrition × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2009 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Nutritional profile of women participating in kudumbasree programmes
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2009) Shiji, N; KAU; Usha, V
    A study on “Nutrtional profile of women participating in Kudumbasree programmes” was carried out among women in Nadathara panchayat, Thrissur district. A total of 120 women were selected randomly for the study. Out of this, 100 women from Kudumbasree members and 20 women from non members of Kudumbasree. Information regarding the socio economic conditions of the families revealed that, most of the families in both KM and NM were Hindus and belonged to other backward communities with a family size of 3 to 5 members and majority of families were of nuclear type. The composition of the families indicated that, among adults number of females was higher than the males and among children number of boys was higher than the girls. Educational status of the family members showed that majority in both groups and all the respondents were literates. Work participation of family members revealed that, majority of male members in both groups were engaged in either permanent or temporary type of jobs. And among women the percentage of ‘no work’ category was high in NM families than in KM families. Monthly income of the KM families varied from Rs.2001 to 4000 whereas in NM families it was Rs.1001 to 3000. Details of activities of KM respondents revealed that, they were engaged in 7 different types of activities in different units with a monthly income ranging from Rs.3000 to 10,000. Clay work and garment making were the two activities with more units. Highest income was for convenient food making unit and lowest income was observed for chocolate making unit, banana products making unit and one papad making unit. Majority of KM respondents received more than Rs.1000 per month from their income generating activities and most of them contributed to about 31-60 per cent of their family income. About 15 cents of land was owned by most of the KM and NM families and had no specific cultivation in their land. Most of the KM families borrowed money from the Kudumbasree fund and house construction was the main purpose of loan whereas NM families took loan from kuris mainly for marriage expenses of the family members. The loan amount varied from Rs.20,000-30,000 in KM families and in NM families ranging from Rs.40,000-50,000.All the KM families saved money whereas the per cent of families with saving was less in NM families. Monthly expenditure of KM families were significantly higher than the NM families on various aspects except for expenditure for health and fuel. Maximum proportion of income was spent on food items in both groups. Primary health center was utilized by majority of KM and NM families for health care. Morbidity pattern in the families for the past one year revealed that, majority had only fever. Majority of the families in both groups had their own houses with brick walls and tiled roof but number of rooms were more in KM families (3-5 rooms). All the families in both groups had separate kitchen and proper lavatory facilities. Most of the families had adequate drainage facilities. Majority of the families in both groups had recreational facilities like TV or radio. Most of the families had water sources from their own well. Wood and LPG were used as fuel in most of the KM families whereas NM families used only wood for cooking foods. Training programmes were attended by most of the KM respondents related to their activity and also in other fields and maximum duration of training (1 year) was found for tailoring practices. Most of the KM respondents strongly agreed to the positive statements and strongly disagreed to the negative statements about the Kudumbasree programme. Food consumption pattern of the families indicated that majority of the families were non vegetarians. Cereals, other vegetables, roots and tubers, oils and fats, spices and condiments, fish and sugar were consumed most frequently by the KM families while in NM families all the above food items except roots and tubers were found to be the most frequently used food items. Three major meals was the meal pattern followed by most of the families. About 40 per cent of KM respondents used packed lunch during working days and rice and pulses were the main items for lunch. Pickling was the only method of food preservation observed in the families. In KM families some extra non vegetarian foods were given during special physiological conditions like pregnancy and lactation but this was not observed in NM families. During infancy most of the families in both groups gave ragi as the supplementary food. In disease conditions majority of the families gave rice porridge to the patients. Majority of families in both groups followed hygienic practices and most of the respondents had different food believes. Body mass index showed that 43 per cent of KM and 40 per cent of NM respondents were normal. Prevalence of mild and moderate malnutrition was found among NM respondents. One day food weighment survey indicated that the mean intake of all foods except flesh foods were significantly below the RDA among KM and NM respondents. The nutritional quality of the diet revealed that the intake of nutrients like protein, fat and riboflavin were significantly high in KM and NM respondents and the intake of iron, thiamin, niacin and vitamin C were satisfactory in KM respondents, while energy intake was significantly low. Clinical examination showed symptoms like xerosis, pigmentation and functional night blindness in the eyes and flourosis and carries among both groups of respondents. Biochemical examination of haemoglobin showed that 46.6 per cent of KM respondents were normal with a Hb level of 12g/100ml as against 10 per cent in NM respondents. There is a significant relationship was observed between the iron intake and Hb level of KM respondents.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Quality evaluation of value added products with marine and fresh water fish
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2009) Soumya, P S; KAU; Usha, V
    Fish is recognized as an excellent source of protein, containing all the ten essential amino acids in desirable concentrations for human beings and available at cheaper rate. The present study, on “Quality evaluation of value added products with marine and fresh water fish” was aimed at evaluating the nutrients and developing products from four fish varieties namely pink perch (Nemipterus raponicus) and silver belly (Gerres filamentoses) belonging to marine species and tilapia (Tilapia mossambica) and katla (Catla catla) of fresh water species. Thus, in addition to the role of income generation, value addition helps to increase the acceptability of the fishes which are presently under utilized. The fresh fish varieties were analysed for chemical constituents like moisture, fat, protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A and peroxide value. Marine fish were found to be rich sources of calcium, phosphorus iron and fat, whereas fresh water fish were rich in protein and vitamin A. Fat content was comparatively low. Yield of fish muscle was found to be high in fresh water species like katla (78 per cent) and tilapia (75.5 per cent). Higher peroxide value was observed in marine varieties. The fish products like cutlet and stick were prepared following standard procedures and were packed in polythene covers and stored for a period of two months. The peroxide value of the products were found to increase with the storage period with significant variation. Products made out of pink perch had the highest peroxide value throughout the storage period and the lowest was in silver belly. Organoleptic evaluation of the products were carried out using a 9-point hedonic scale. Qualities such as appearance, colour, flavour, texture and taste of the developed products were evaluated for a period of two months at fortnightly intervals. The sensory qualities were found to decrease during storage with significant variation. Fish cutlets and sticks made of katla fish had the highest acceptability throughout the storage period. Microbial enumeration of the products revealed that there was a gradual increase in the microbial population with the storage period. Maximum bacterial count was in cutlets made of pink perch initially (1.33x105cfug-1) and finally (10.66 x105cfug-1). Minimum bacterial load was for katla. There was no significant variation in the bacterial load of fresh water fish cutlets but significant variation was observed in marine fish cutlet with pink perch showing significantly high bacterial load. Fungal population was detected in cutlets after 15th day of storage without any significant variation, but after 30 days, cutlet made of pink perch showed significantly high fungal population. Maximum yeast population was also in pink perch cutlet (2.66x103cfug-1) In fish stick also after 60 days of storage, bacterial count was maximum in pink perch (9.00x105cfug-1), fungal count and yeast count 7.33x103cfug-1 and 2.00x103cfug-1 respectively. The shelf life of the products with acceptable maximum total plate count was for 30 days. After 30 days of storage, the products had a total plate count higher than 5x105cfug-1 and also higher peroxide value which is an indication of developing rancidity of fats. This was reflected in their lowered organoleptic qualities with storage period. Katla fish products showed highest overall acceptability may be due to their comparatively low fat content in fish muscle (2.5g 100g-1). After two months of storage the products were found to be slimy with unpleasant odour. Computation of nutritive value of cutlets per packet (4 cutlets, 20g each) revealed a high protein content in tilapia (11.92g), calcium in pink perch (498.24mg), phosphorus in silver belly (382mg), iron in silver belly (2.96mg) and vitamin A in katla (93.12µg). Nutritive value of fish stick per packet (4 sticks, 25g each) revealed a high protein content in tilapia (16.36g), calcium in pink perch (698.12mg), phosphorus in silver belly (519.68mg), iron in silver belly (2.84mg) and vitamin A in katla (72.96µg) respectively.