Regional Agricultural Research Station, Kayamkulam is located in the Kayamkulam Municipality of Alappuzha District, one kilometer east of Kayamkulam town, on the northern side of Kayamkulam - Punalur road. The station was established in the year 1937 under the erstwhile University of Travancore. It was subsequently transferred to the Department of Agriculture in 1958 and continued to function under it till it became a part of the KAU on 07.02.72. I n April, 2000, this Station was upgraded to the status of RARS (Onattukara Region).

Lead functions are on rice in Onattukara, coconut, annual oil seeds and pulses. Verification functions are on vegetables in homesteads, mushrooms etc. The Station is implementing the Comprehensive Coconut Care Programme.

• Eight rice varieties have been released for cultivation, especially for Onattukara tract of Kerala. They are U 19, UR 110, Kottarakkara - 1, Lakshmi, Bhagya, Onam, Dhanya and Sagara.

• In sesame, two cultivars - Kayamkulam 1 and Thilothama were released.

• In blackgram - Syama, in cowpea - Pournami and in cassava - Nidhi are the other crop cultivars evolved at this station and recommended for cultivation. Besides, two cultivars in rice - Makaram and Kumbham, one in sesame - Thilathara, and one in green gram - Poornima have been recommended for release.

• Several crop management and crop protection recommendations for rice, sesame, groundnut, cowpea, black gram, green gram and vegetables with respect to Onattukara tract have been evolved and recommended.