Our R&D laboratory is recognised by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, New Delhi, as a centre for crop research.

The R&D laboratory is well equipped with sophisticated equipments to undertake basic research work in areas of crop nutrition, quality testing, tissue culture research and crop-improvement through breeding, bio-control research and other related works.

1. Specific area & where R & D is being carried out

    a) Soil Nutrient Index.
    b) Verietal trial of Coffee, Pepper and Cardamom.
    c) Bio-Control Research.
    d) Pests and Disease Control Research.
    e) Coffee effluent Treatment.
    f) Compost - Vermicompost Experiment.
    g) Quality Analysis of Coffee & Pepper.
    h) Analysis of Agro-inputs for quality standards.
    i) Water management Research - Drip irrigation for coffee
    j) Crop Diversification - Vanilla.
    k) Pepper Value addition

2. Benefits Derived

l. Crop Nutrition Research:
    a) Soil fertility status is monitored through soil and leaf     analysis, and the results are calibrated to formulate     optimum fertiliser recommendation and soil amendment     application.

    b) Our fertiliser program is rationalized based on soil     nutrients status, which is optimum and adequate, to     enhance crop production and productivity.

    c) Micro-nutrient Research :-
    Monitoring the availability of micro-nutrients such as 'Zinc,     Copper, Iron, Manganese' and secondary nutrients such as     'Sulphur, Calcium & Magnesium' to improve coffee, pepper     & Cardamom productivity.

II. Coffee varietal Trial Experiments
Identified location specific high yielding and disease tolerant selection for planting in our estates

III. Organic Manure:
Large scale manufacturing of compost with improved technology to enhance the soil fertility status. Introduction of Trichoderma fungus to hasten the process of composting and as a control for soil bome disease. Addition of coffee effluent to hasten the process of composting and to increase the nutritive value.

IV. Bio-control Research
    a) Pepper Wilt Disease Control: R & D pioneered the large     scale culturing of good quality Trichoderma fungus for use     in the biological control of Pepper wilt disease and Root     disease of coffee.

    b) Coffee Berry Bored Control: Large-scale installaion of     Berry Borer traps with the use of organic solvents as part of     integrated pest & disease management.

    c) In-house formulated high quality Neem oil for integrated     pest & disease management.

V. Organic farming system of Coffee and Pepper:
Conversion & Pepper cultivation is in compliance with Organic Farming Systems

VI. Pepper Value Addition:
    a) Developed improved methodology for Dehydrated Green     Pepper.

    b) Conversion of low grade pepper into Oleoresin and Oil.

VII. Training programs and advisory circulars to estates to update current / new trends in cultivation practices.

3) Plan of action in-house

I. Improved crop varieties:
Field Assessment of high yielding and disease tolerant selection of Coffee, Pepper and Cardamom.

II. Field evaluation of Breeding plants of Coffee:
Field evaluation of breeding plants of coffee for its performance in the field regarding its yield potential and disease resistance.

III. Crop Diversification :
To study the opportunities of various crop diversification in the marginal coffee/paddy soil areas.

IV. Coffee Effluent Treatment Research :
Experiments are under way to determine economical pollution control of coffee effluent.

V. Drip Irrigation
To develop an economically viable technique of irrigation for coffee and improve the efficiency of nutrient delivery through fertigation

VI. Mechanical Trough drier:
To preserve the quality of coffee during drying and to reduce the drying time in barbecue.

4) General

I. Collaboration with Research Institute:
    a) Central Coffee Research Institute, Balehonnur.

    b) Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut

II. The R &D Laboratory is recognised by the department of Scientific

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