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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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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development of process protocol for garcinia cambogia power
    (Department of postharvest technology and agricultural processing, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2012) Sunitha, C P; KAU; Santhi, Mary Mathew
    The major problem faced by the farmers regarding the processing of Garcinia cambogia is difficulty in drying of this fruit as the harvesting period coincides with the southwest monsoon also if not processed quickly fungal infection may takes place. And the currently adopted sun drying method takes long time and affects the quality of the product. Drying of Garcinia cambogia juice into powdered particles gives a considerable reduction in volume, easy to use and is an effective method for prolonging the shelf life. Therefore, a research study was conducted to develop a process protocol for Garcinia cambogia powder from the fresh fruit itself. Powder samples were obtained by drying the Garcinia cambogia juice using spray dryer (atomizer speeds 17000rpm and 22000rpm, inlet air temperature 175 and 180oC and feed flow rates 5, 5,5 and 6 l/h), tray drying (at 60, 70 and 80oC) and vacuum tray drying (40, 45 and 50oC) techniques. Garcinia cambogia juice at 120brix was used to prepare the fruit juice powder. In order to reduce the stickiness and also to increase the yield of the powder, maltodextrin (15% based on sensory evaluation, moisture content and solubility) the most widely used additive was used. The method of drying parameter was optimized on the basis of quality of the powder such as moisture content, total solids, colour, acid value, pH, bulk density solubility index and wettability. The quality of the powder obtained using spray dryer at an inlet air temperature of 1800 C, speed of the atomizer 22000 rpm and feed rate as 5.5 l/h (with an average particle size (8 μm), bulk density (0.412 3 g/cm ), moisture content (3.5939%wb) and total solids (96.407) was superior to those obtained by vacuum tray dried and tray dried product. So spray drying was selected as the best method for the production of Garcinia cambogia powder which have a storability of above 7 months with good reconstitution properties (wetting time, 80 S) and solubility index ,<0.1mm ).