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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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20111
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Subject: Home Science × Author: Seethal, K C × End date: 2011 × Start date: 2011 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Promoting fruit and vegetable consumption among school children through nutrition intervention programme.
    (Department of Home Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2011) Seethal, K C; KAU; Beela, G K
    The over arching goals of this study was to promote the fruit and vegetable consumption among school children through nutrition intervention programme. Recent literature shows that the consumption of fruits and vegetables among school children are inadequate and the trend of junk food eating habit is increasing alarmingly. A wealth of anecdotal evidence reveals that nutrition intervention programmes with gardening effect multiple domains in the lives of the subjects. The objective of the present study is to promote the fruit and vegetable consumption among the school children through nutrition intervention programme. It also investigates the impact of the nutrition intervention on the knowledge, preference and consumption towards fruits and vegetables. Tools were constructed to ascertain the demographic information’s, food consumption pattern, assessment of general health status, preference towards fruits and vegetables, knowledge towards fruits and vegetables and fruits and vegetable consumption pattern. The tools were subjected to reliability and validity tests before the study. The present study was carried out in three sessions, the first session was pre test, done, before the intervention, the second session was during the intervention and third session was the post test after the intervention. All the subjects in the present study were reported to be habitual non vegetarians. Data shows that even low cost and locally available leafy vegetable like amaranth, drumstick leave and cabbage were not consumed daily by the majority of the subjects. Consumption of roots and tubers, as well as other vegetables were also reported to be less by majority of the subjects. Frequency of fruit consumption of the subjects was also found to be low. Banana was the only fruit that was daily consumed by the subjects. . The results of the present study reveals that subjects showed preference to food rich in sugar and fat compared to that of fruits and vegetables. Majority of the subjects did not show high preference towards leafy vegetables, other vegetables as well as roots and tubers. The nutrition intervention was designed including nutrition education using multimedia tools, gardening, providing hands on activities through the actual growing and harvesting of fruits and vegetables followed by nutrition games. The frequency use of fruits and vegetables of the subjects who participated in the nutrition intervention programme significantly increased. The intervention programme had significant effect on the gain in knowledge as well as change in preference score for fruits and vegetables of the subjects who participated in the nutrition intervention. Positive associations of participation index of the subjects with knowledge score are also found. Hence it can be concluded that nutrition intervention with nutrition education, gardening and games can promote the fruit and vegetable consumption, preference and knowledge of the pre adolescent.