Department of Community Science

Community Science is an interdisciplinary field of study having a scientific understanding of the community concerned and to improve the quality of life of individuals, family and people at large. The department has made significant development through the major mandate of state agricultural Universities ie, teaching, research and extension. The department offers MSc Community Science (Food and Nutrition), PhD Community Science (Food and Nutrition) and Post Graduate Diploma in Horticulture Therapy. The present faculty strength of the department is four, out of which two are Professors and two are Assistant professors.

GENESIS : The Department started at the College of Agriculture , Vellayani campus in 1983

VISION : Creating social change through knowledge and capacity building for a healthy community.

MISSION
1. Develop the knowledge necessary to address the social and nutritional problems at community level.
2. High academic attainment at state, national & international level with respect to the discipline Community Science ,Food Science and Nutrition & Horticultural Therapy
3. Research for developing healthy society and community
4. Translating research into practice
5. Community Initiative Support system design and implementation
6. Link research outcomes with extension activities to meet the challenges of women , children and farming community
7. Effective transfer of technologies to the communities through appropriate methods.

PROGRAMMES
1. Academic Programmes
a. PhD in Food Science and Nutrition
b. MSc in Food Science and Nutrition
c. PG Diploma in Horticultural Therapy

2. Research Achievements: Keeping the recent issues and problems of rural as well as urban community in view, the PG research works and External aided funded projects have been conducted successfully in the following areas during last five years.
a. Standardized and developed Value added products from Agricultural produce
b. Empowered Differently abled children through Horticultural Therapy
c. Quality evaluation of various food products with respect to nutritional , therapeutic and cancerous properties

3. Extension Activities : The faculties and students extend their services to the community through conducting off campus training programmes . Faculties of the department function as resource persons at SAMETI, ICDS, IMG , RATTC , ATMA and NGO’s

MODEL COMMUNITY HORTICULTURAL THERAPY GARDEN

Model Community Horticultural Therapy Garden which is being set in the College of Agriculture, Vellayani will provide the students with a hands-on opportunity to learn the knowledge and skills required to work in social, therapeutic and vocational horticultural settings. Community Horticulture Therapy garden is a plant-dominated environment purposefully designed to facilitate interaction with the healing elements of nature. The gardens are specifically designed to address a variety of applications within healthcare, rehabilitative and other therapeutic settings. The basic features of the garden is that it includes wide and gently graded accessible entrances and paths, raised planting beds, rotating pots, hanging pots with pulley, hugging tree, vertical gardening, pond and a sensory-oriented plant selection focused on color, texture, and fragrance.