1.4 RESEARCH

Research activities of the University are organised and conducted at six Regional Agricultural Research Stations, 26 Research Stations, three Centres of Advanced Studies, one Centre for Agricultural Biotechnology & Molecular Biology and ten Instructional Farms. Currently  research projects are  supported by  ICAR, Commodity Boards, DST, DBT, ICFRE, DOE&F etc.  

Kerala has five agro-ecological zones viz. South, Special Zone of Problem Areas, Central, High range and Northern, spread over 14 districts of the State.  Each zone is headed by an Associate Director of Research. A new zone was created at Kayamkulam in 2000 to implement  the newly introduced  Comprehensive Coconut Care Programme  supported by local  self governments.  The Onattukara station was elevated to the status of RARS for this purpose. Teaching campuses, Research Stations and Transfer of Technology Centres are located across all the zones where zonal and location specific problems are addressed to research activities. The list of ongoing research projects,  prepared based on the Annual Report 2000-01, is shown in Table 6.   The lead functions and important research findings of all Research Stations under KAU are detailed in Appendix - 1.

Table - 6 A

ONGOING  RESEARCH PROJECTS UNDER KERALA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

Sl.

No.

 Title of Project

Funding Agency

Outlay (lakhs)

Duration (month)

B1

Faculty – Agriculture

 

 

 

1.

Padma Shree Paul Pothen IFFCO Chair

IFFCO

2.14

48

2.

Establishment of a centre for large scale production of vegetable seeds

ICAR

16.00

84

3.

AICRP on Water Management

ICAR Co-ordinated

39.00

120

4.

AICRP on Honey bee

ICAR Co-ordinated

53.00

120

5.

AICRP on Tillage requirement of major Indian soils for different cropping systems

ICAR Co-ordinated

3.00

120

6.

AICRP on  Nematode Pests

ICAR Co-ordinated

49.00

120

7.

Bio-ecology, domestication and management of stingless bees in Kerala

ICAR Co-ordinated

11.00

36

8.

Host parasite  relationship and ecofriendly management of important nematode associated with medicinal plants (Thippali, Piper longum, Chethikoduveli, K. galanga, P. rosea, Kacholam)

ICAR Co-ordinated

9.00

36

9.

Soil characterisation and resource management of acid soil regions for increasing productivity (Network research Project)

ICAR Co-ordinated

10.00

60

10.

AICRP on Mushroom

ICAR Co-ordinated

12.00

60

11.

AICRP on Agroforestry (Functioning at LRSs, Thiruvazhamkunnu)

ICAR Co-ordinated

26.00

120

12.

Solid waste as a component of potting media for the seedling of agro forestry tree species

ICAR Co-ordinated

6.00

36

13.

AICRP on Weed Control

ICAR Co-ordinated

36.00

120

14.

AICRP on BCCP

ICAR Co-ordinated

40.97

60

15.

AIC Vegetable Improvement Project

ICAR Co-ordinated

14.00

120

16.

AIC Floriculture Improvement Project

ICAR Co-ordinated

12.00

120

17.

AICRP on Medicinal & Aromatic Plants

ICAR Co-ordinated

57.00

120

18.

AINP on Agricultural Ornithology

ICAR Co-ordinated

34.00

120

19.

AICRP on Soil test Crop response correlation

ICAR Co-ordinated

 

60

20.

Genetic analysis of cocoa (Theobroma cacao )

ICAR Co-ordinated

6.00

36

21.

Agri-business opportunities in Kerala – Constraints Analysis to ensure sustainable efficiency

ICAR Co-ordinated

9.00

24

 

 

22.

Micropropagation & development of seedless Malabar tamarind Garcinia gummigutta var. gummigutta through in vitro techniques

ICAR Co-ordinated

8.00

36

23.

Standardisation of techniques for commercial production of dry flowers and plant

ICAR Co-ordinated

7.00

36

24.

Biocontrol of Ralstonia solanacearum E.F Smith causing bacterial wilt in solanaceous vegetable crops

ICAR Co-ordinated

11.00

36

25.

AICRP on tropical fruits (Banana)

ICAR Co-ordinated

48.08

60

26.

AICRP  - Project Directorate of Cropping Systems Research – Karamana & ECF Unit Alathur sub centre

ICAR Co-ordinated

64.00

120

27.

Value addition for sweet potato by developing different food products

ICAR Co-ordinated

5.00

36

28.

AICRP on Cashew – research on Cashew (Madakkathara & Pilicode

ICAR Co-ordinated

14.00

96

29.

Soil test based and productivity linked approach for cashew nutrition

ICAR Co-ordinated

9.00

36

30.

AICRP on sesame and niger

ICAR Co-ordinated

27.00

120

31.

AICS & CIP – Research on Cardamom

ICAR Co-ordinated

24.00

120

32.

NSC - Breeder Seed Production Unit NSP – BSP Project

ICAR Co-ordinated

21.00

120

33.

AICRP on Arid Legumes (Guar)

ICAR Co-ordinated

42.00

 

34.

AICRP – Double Cropping Main Centre

ICAR Co-ordinated

96.00

120

35.

AICRP on Long term fertilizer equipment

ICAR Co-ordinated

6.00

60

36.

AICRP on Sugarcane

ICAR Co-ordinated

56.63

60

37.

AICRP on pesticide residues

ICAR Co-ordinated

56.25

60

38.

AICRP on meteorology

ICAR Co-ordinated

7.68

60

39.

AICRIP – Double Cropping Main Centre

ICAR Co-ordinated

41.65

60

40.

Micropropagation of matti (Ailanthus triphysa) and bijasal (Pterocarpus marsupium)

ICAR Adhoc

8.00

36


41.

Survey, collection, evaluation, conservation and standardisation of vegetative propagation in five under-exploited minor fruits of Kerala

ICAR Adhoc

7.00

48

42.

Exploration, collection and cataloguing of sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) on its reproductive biology and seed technology

ICAR Adhoc

5.00

36

43.

Hybridisation in ginger (Zingiber officianale  (Rosc) through in vitro pollination

ICAR Adhoc

6.00

36

 

44.

Development and field testing of expert systems as an aid to agricultural extension work

ICAR Adhoc

15.00

48

45.

Screening for sources of resistance and breeding for mosaic resistant vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata var. sesquipedalis)

ICAR Adhoc

7.00

36

46.

Survey, collection and evaluation of table type mangoes existing in central Kerala

ICAR Adhoc

5.00

36

47.

In vitro cloning and improvement of orchids