The National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) was launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in 1979 with assistance from the World Bank, to strengthen the research capabilities of State Agricultural Universities, to conduct location specific research in the main agro-ecological zones and to tackle location specific problems. The project was implemented in two phases, phase I (1979-85) and phase II (1986-1993). Under the project, Regional Agricultural Research Stations (RARS) were established for addressing the zonal research needs and fostering linkages between research, extension and farmers.
The Regional Agricultural Research Station for the Southern Zone of Kerala was established at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani on 30th November, 1981. The station is situated at College of Agriculture, Vellayani Campus, 13 km away from theThiruvananthapuram city. This is a full-fledged zonal centre of the Directorate of Research and is headed by the Associate Director of Research (ADR) co-ordinating research programmes implemented in the Southern districts of Kerala viz., Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta.
