The agriculture and allied activities of IRTC are carried out both as standalone programmes and also under the processes taken up by the various divisions. Major interventions started in 1991 with the Group Approach to Locally Adaptable and Sustainable Agriculture (GALASA) project, which was a scientific agriculture package for increasing the production of paddy in each ‘Padasekharam’ through developing and utilizing the available resources of land, water, manpower and other components of production as group activity. IRTC could develop and sustain agriculture labour bank at Muttichira watershed, which has been working for close to a decade.

Sericulture was attempted at IRTC campus during 1991-94. Training was given to farmers in the rearing of silk worms. Assessment of quality of cocoons produced indicated that climatic conditions in Palakkad, Kerala were not favourable for good quality silk.  IRTC has a dedicated Food Technology laboratory and is engaged in research in post-harvest technology and training as well. IRTC runs a well-equipped nursery named Samata Village.

The NABARD-backed farmer producer organization promotion was also taken up successfully. NABARD has approved IRTC as a facilitating agency for promotional organisation of farmer producer companies. IRTC could also support the formation of a prominent Farmer Producer Company named Susthira. The NABARD-backed company brings together rural farmers and encourages them to engage is scientific and collective farming activities and market their produce under the brand name ‘Susthira’.