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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
    Assessment of quality of selected varieties of green gram and grain cowpea
    (Department of Home Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1996) Jessy Philip; KAU; Prema, L
    Pulses contain several imbibed inhibitors, antinutritional substances and flatulence causing factors which negatively influences their nutritional significance, digestibility and utility value. Studies on processing pulses, indicate a reduction in the above undesirable factors. Comprehensive information regarding the quality of different varieties of pulses evolved and recommended by Kerala Agricultural University are at present not available. Hence in this study, a critical assessment of the quality parameters in selected varieties of cow pea (C 152, V 118, Pournami, Kozhinjipayar and Kanakamany) and greengram (Mg 161, M 3, Co 2, Pusa 8793 and Pusa Baisakhi) were envisaged. The physical, cooking, nutritional and antinutritional qualities were critically assessed to screen the varieties of the two pulses. Effect of processing and cooking methods on the above quality parameters were also ascertained. Salient findings of the study are: 1. Based on the physical, cooking and nutritional characteristics Kanakamany in cowpea and Pusa 8793, M 3 and Mg 161 in greengram were found to be better than other varieties .. pa 2. In Cowpea varieties tannin, phytin and trypsin inhibitorswere lowest in V 118, raffinose in C 152; and stachyose and verbascose in Kozhinjipayar, 3. Among greengram varieties tannin, and verbascose were lowest in M 3; phytin and stachyose in Co 2, trypsin in Mg 161 and raffinose in Pusa 8793. 4. Gel electrophoretic analysis of cowpea and greengram protein revealed their heterogenic nature. 5. Limiting amino acids such as methionine and cystine were highest in Kanakamany (cowpea) and Mg 161 (greengram). 6. Biological experiments revealed that among cowpeavarieties PER and NPUwere high- est for Pournami (1.92) and V 118 (86.13) respectively and in greengram varieties, PER was maximum for Mg 161 (2.83) and NPU was highest for Pusa Baisakhi (84.27). 7. Incorporation of Kanakamany (which was lysine and arginine ratio as 1) in high fat high cholesterol diet decreased the lipid level in liver and serum of experimental ani- mals indicating the hypocholesterolemic effect of Kanakamany. 8. An increase in protein content was observed in the two pulses during germination and germination followed by steaming. 9. A reduction in antinutrients were found during various processing and cooking methods. 10. Soaking and boiling caused maximum reduction in tannin, phytin and trypsin inhibi- tor in the two pulses. 11. Germination and steaming were found to be the most effective method in reducing the flatus producing oligosaccharides viz raffinose, stachyose and verbascose in the two pulses. 12. Application of suitable statistical techniques on the above data revealed the superior- ity of Kanakamany (cowpea) and Mg 161 (greengram) over other varieties.