The Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) was established in 1970 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and is headquartered in Kudlu, near Kasaragod, Kerala. CPCRI plays a crucial role in enhancing the genetic potential of plantation crops and conducts both basic and applied research to develop superior planting materials for crops like coconut, arecanut, Palmyrah, and cocoa. Originally, the institute also focused on cashew, oil palm, and spices, but these were later assigned to separate research institutes. In 2023, Palmyrah Palm was added as a new mandate crop, expanding the institute's research scope.

The institute's organizational structure includes its headquarters in Kasaragod and regional stations in Kayamkulam (Kerala) and Vittal (Karnataka), with additional research centers in Kahikuchi (Assam), Mohitnagar (West Bengal), and Kidu (Karnataka). CPCRI also hosts the International Coconut Gene Bank for South Asia at Kidu and serves as the headquarters for the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Palms, which includes 28 centers across 14 states and one union territory.

CPCRI is strategically located in the heart of India's major coconut-growing region, just 5 km from Kasaragod and 51 km from Mangalore. The area enjoys a warm humid tropical climate, with an average maximum temperature of 31.2°C and a minimum of 23.6°C, and an annual rainfall of 3462 mm. The institute's 77.71-hectare farm is divided into various blocks for experimental purposes, featuring different soil types, including red sandy loam, laterite, and littoral sandy soil, with coconut as the primary crop.

CPCRI's research is organized into five divisions: Crop Improvement, Crop Production, Crop Protection, Physiology, Biochemistry and Post-Harvest Technology, and Social Sciences. Through its extensive research efforts, CPCRI continues to contribute significantly to the advancement of plantation crops in India.