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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
    Evaluation of sapota (Manilkara achrar (Mill) Forberg) for postharvest qualities
    (Department of Processing Technology, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1999) Maya, T; KAU; Jacob John, P
    A study on the screening of post-harvest qualities of five varieties of sapota grown In the college orchard was conducted at the Department of Processing Technology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1998-99. On screening varieties like 'Cricket Ball', 'Co-I', 'Co-2', 'PKM l' and 'Oval' for physical, chemical and sensory parameters, 'Co-2', 'PKM l ' and 'Oval' were rated best for table purpose, while 'Co-2' for distant marketing and 'Co-I' for processing qualities. Individually wrapping the fruits with cling film, or packaging fruits with 30 per cent moistened saw dust was evolved as the best storage technique to extend the shelf-life of sapota at ambient temperature. Saw dust being cheap, and less labour intensive can be suggested as an appropriate storage technique at field level without the involvement of any chemical, electricity or civil structure, while cling wrap can be aimed for retail marketing. Osmotic dehydration of sapota slices of thickness 0.5 to 1 cm using dry sugar containing 1500 ppm S02 and 0.3 per cent citric acid in a ratio of 1: 1 for eight hours followed by oven drying took only 16 hours to accomplish the drying unlike the reported 33 hours of osmo-air drying. Thus the technique developed can improve the quality of the product many fold and can reduce the energy consumption considerably.