Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode

Mandate of the Station : Regional Agricultural Research Station (NZ), Pilicode, leads the State wide research activities on its mandatory crops, Coconut, Rice, Cashew, Banana, Mango and Vegetables. The scientists of this station would work with selected villages to understand of farmers' constraints and reactions towards adopting the recommended practices. It is also mandatory to test and evaluate the promising experimental results in farmers' fields under different soil types and climatic conditions prior to their inclusion in package of practices recommendations.

Location

• The Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode is located in Pilicode Village of Hosdurg Taluk in Kasaragod District
• The station is geographically located at 13°N latitude and 75°E longitude at an elevation of 15m above MSL
• It is by the side of NH 66, about 9 kms south of Nileswar town and 14 km north of Payyannur, Kannur
• The nearest railway station is Cheruvathur on Mangalore-Palakkad line.
• There are airports at Mangalore and Kannur International Airport.
• The extent of area of RARS, Pilicode is 57.87 ha
• The Station receives 3379 mm of average annual rainfall.
• The mean maximum and minimum temperature of the location is 33°C and 23°C respectively. 

In the beginning, the activities were centred around introduction of coconut cultivars from different parts of India and other countries, selection, hybridisation, identification of superior local and hybrid varieties and their distribution among farmers. Very good achievements were attained in this regard. After the implementation NARP, research activities were intensified and apart from research on coconut, research on Cashew, Rice, Mango, Vegetables, oilseeds, pulses and tubers was also initiated. Agrometeorological Cell and animal Science wing are the two additional components on which emphasis is given at the station.

Major Activities at the Station

• Research & Development
• Farm Management/ Livestock Management : Pilicode 
• Conservation of Germplasm
• Hybrid Seedling Production
• Production of Technological Inputs
• Sales and services management
• Training, Exhibitions, MDDT, Farm Advisory Services, Other Extension Activities
• Guided tour around the campus and farm
• Liaison with other departments/ agencies

Current Research Focus

• Development of dwarf coconut with high copra and oil content
• Tissue culture studies in coconut
• Research and development activities for development of sea coastal, marshy, saline prone, naturally organic rice tract – KAIPAD
• Research & Development activities for Conversion of  non saline conventional wetland  to organic.
• Programmes for enhancing rice biodiversity in farmers’ field - Germplasm Conservation
• Conservation and evaluation of Kasaragod dwarf cattle
• Conservation of Malabari goats
• Gramin Krish Mousam Sewa (GKMS) Project