The Kerala Agricultural University is the first agricultural university of the Kerala State starts with a aim to provide human resources, skills and technology, required for the sustainable development of  agriculture in Kerala. The University have a network of institutions spread over 36 campuses through the length and breadth of the state, consisting of ten constituent colleges, six Regional Agricultural Research Stations, 26 Research Stations, three Centres of Advanced Studies, the Central Training Institute, the Communication Centre, the KAU Press, seven Krishi Vigyan Kendras, the Central Library and various other research .programmes.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has selected Kerala Agricultural University as the best performing University among the thirty-five State Agricultural Universities and deemed Universities in the country in the year 2001. Between four faculties (Agriculture, Veterinary and Animal Science, Fisheries and Agricultural Engineering,) ten constituent colleges (three for Agriculture, two for Veterinary and Animal Sciences, one each for Agricultural Engineering, Forestry, Fisheries, Cooperation Banking Management, and Dairy Science and Technology) and 56 Departments, the University offers graduate and post-graduate programmes at Masters as well as Doctoral levels, in almost all the disciplines and specialties on various subjects related to agriculture.