The Banana Research Station at Marakkal was established during the year 1963 in an area of 17.3ha, as a centre of the Department of Agriculture to carry out research on banana and pineapple. In 1970, the station was brought under the All India Co-ordinated Fruit Improvement Project of the ICAR to carry out research on banana and pineapple. In 1972, when KAU was established, this station was taken over by it. In 1974, the venue of the Pineapple Research Centre was shifted to KAU Main campus, Vellanikkara in an area of 6.3 ha suited for pineapple cultivation.