Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

19931
Reset filters
Author: Sujatha Elavana, KAU × Type: Thesis ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on tractor mounted paddy reaper
    (Department of Farm Power Machinery and Energy, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology,Tavanur, 1993) Sujatha Elavana, KAU; Sivaswami, M
    A tractor front mounted 2.2 m paddy reaper-windrower was jot fabricated from Punjab. Medications were carried out to suit to Kerala conditions. Power is drawn from the PTO shaft of the tractor through the intermediate shaft to the auxiliary gearbox of the reaper. From the gearbox power is transmitted to cutterbar and conveying assemblies. The reaper assembly is connected to the hydraulic link of the tractor through wire ropes and ‘A’ frames for lifting and lowering of the reaper. The crop is cut by the reciprocating knife and is conveyed through crop row dividers, starwheels pressure springs and lugged conveyor belts and is discharged as a neat windrow. The weight distribution of tractor with and without the reaper on all the four wheels were studied. It was found that in addition to the weight of the reaper at the front axle, a weight of 85 kg is transferred from the rear axle to the front axle when the reaper is mounted at the front of the tractor. The weight of the reaper is equally shared by the left and right wheels without effecting the stability. The idle power requirement of the cutterbar, conveyor belts, universal joints, intermediate shaft and the total power requirement are found to be 0.625 hp, 2.595 hp, 0.09 hp, 0.185 hp and 3.495 hp respectively. The cost of the reaper is Rs.20,000. the average field capacity is found to be 0.37 ha/hr. The circuitous pattern of harvesting is found economical compared to the reverse pattern. The preharvest loss, sickle loss, uncut loss, shattering loss and total cutterbar loss were found to be 0.004 per cent, 0.87 per cent, 2.2 per cent and 2.28 per cent respectively. Manual harvesting costs Rs.1625/ha whereas reaper needs only Rs. 400/ha having a saving of Rs.1225/ha in addition to timeliness of work and saving in manual labour upto 186 man-h/ha. It is established that the tractor front mounted paddy reaper-windrower is an appropriate agricultural machine which suites technically and economically to Kerala conditions and helps to reduce the cost of cultivation of paddy and is recommended for popularization.