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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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20151
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Subject: Forest Business Management × Author: Yeshma, Machamma × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Quality evaluation and value addition of fruits of Elaeocarpus serratus L. (Ceylon Olive Tree)
    (College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2015) Yeshma, Machamma; KAU; Vidyasagaran, K
    The present study “Quality evaluation and Value Addition of fruits of Elaeocarpus serratus L. (Ceylon Olive Tree)” was conducted in Vazhachal forest division of Thrissur district, Kerala. From the selected trees the fruits were collected to evaluate their physical parameters, biochemical and mineral composition. Two products were also, prepared from the fruits and their bio chemical parameters were analyzed. The physical characteristics of the fruits revealed that the mean fruit weight, volume, length, diameter for the fruit were 3.55 g, 5.97 cm3, 23.07 mm and 15.58 mm respectively. The mean pulp and seed weight was observed as 2.03 g and 1.52 g respectively for the fruits. The pulp and seed proportion was estimated to be 57.50 per cent and 42.50 per cent of the total Elaeocarpus serratus fruit content. Correlation matrix revealed a significant and positive relation among all the studied physical parameters. The biochemical parameters of the fruit such as moisture, total soluble solids, total sugar, reducing sugar, starch, fibre, titrable acidity, beta carotene, vitamin C were obtained as 62.45 per cent, 5.990 brix, 12.05 per cent, 8.26 per cent, 18.78 per cent, 1.73 per cent, 1.36 per cent, 1.04 μ g /100gm and 2.9 mg /100gm respectively. Minerals like phosphorous, potassium, iron and calcium were found to be 62.80 mg/100g, 331.48 mg/100g, 2.14 mg/100g and 10.94 mg/100g. The nutritional composition of the fruits was found to be in par with other tropical fruits like tamarind, passion fruit, jackfruit etc. In terms of organoleptic evaluation the fruit showed the mean scores for appearance, colour, flavour, texture, odour, taste, after taste was found as 6.7, 6.8, 5, 5, 4.9, 4 and 4.1 respectively. Since the mean value for the above characteristics of the fruit are low, the overall acceptability of the fruit is low with the value of 4.1. Two products were developed from the fruit i.e. pickle and candy. The chemical composition of the fruit product pickle was analysed to evaluate the acidity, total soluble solids, vitamin C, total sugar and reducing sugar which were found to be 1.2 per cent, 10.450 brix, 2.6 mg/100g, 6.05 mg/100g and 0.76 mg/100g respectively. Similarly Candy chemical composition analysed values was found to be 1.42 per cent, 68.060 brix, 2.8 mg/100g, 40.10 mg/100g and 15.01 mg/100g respectively. The organoleptic scores for the pickle and candy showed high values for all the parameters with the overall acceptability mean score of 8.4 and 7.7 respectively. Hence, the present study of fruits of Elaeocarpus serratus clearly reflects the potential of this underutilized wild edible fruit for commercial utilization.