Kerala Agricultural University is deemed to have come into existence from the year 1971 from the 24th of February under the agricultural university act 1971. The university has currently become as one of the premier universities in the state. The university began its operations from the 1st of February 1972 when 21 research centers and two educational institutions managed by the department of animal husbandry and agriculture belonging to the Kerala government, were brought together for enabling accelerated and sustainable development in the field of agriculture in Kerala. The mission of the university is to obtain excellence in agricultural education, extension and research for sustainable livelihood security and agricultural development of farming community. The aim of the university is to create skilled labor force for the field of agriculture and its allied fields like agricultural engineering, forestry, fisheries, co-operation, diary sciences and technology, veterinary science, animal husbandry and crop production by integrating extension, research and educational programmes. The list of colleges affiliated to the university is given below:

• College of Dairy Science & Technology, Thrissur

• Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology

In addition to offering educational courses, the university is also conducting research through six regional research stations, 26 research stations, centers of advanced studies in poultry science, veterinary pathology, genetics & animal breeding, ten instructional farms and one centre in molecular biology and agricultural biotechnology. Kerala government has entrusted the university with the duties of undertaking extension educational programme, prosecution of research, advancement of leadership particularly in agricultural and related fields and making provision for imparting education in animal husbandry, horticulture, agriculture and related fields. The campus of the university is located at Vellanikkara, which is 50 km from Kochi International Airport and 13 km from Thrissur Railway Station.