Horticultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore

The Faculty of Horticulture was established during the year 1971 with the formation of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. The PG and Doctoral Programmes were also introduced during the year of inception. The undergraduate programme B.Sc. (Horticultu ion. The undergraduate programme B.Sc. (Horticulture) was started during the year 1972 and later in 1990, the Programme was shifted to the Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam. At the time of formation of the University during 1971, the Departments of Fruit Crops, Flower Crops and Spices and Plantation Crops were established. Later, the Department of Vegetable Crops and Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Crops were started during the year 1979 and 2010 respectively. Earlier, a common PG and Ph.D. programme was offered and later four separate PG and Ph.D. programmes are being offered from each department. After the formation of various Departments at HC & RI, TNAU, Coimbatore, intensive education, research and extension activities are pursued to promote the various branches including fruits, vegetables, spices, plantation crops, floriculture, landscaping, medicinal and aromatic crops with respect to crop improvement, production and post harvest management. Outcome of the research conducted at HC & RI, Coimbatore, resulted in the release of 12 fruit crop varieties, 59 vegetable crop varieties, nine spices and plantation crop varieties, nine flower crop varieties, one medicinal crop variety and improved production technologies for various crops. Besides the Faculty of Horticulture at Coimbatore, the Dean (Horticulture) of HC & RI, Coimbatore is entitled to direct administrative control over the Horticultural Research Stations at Ooty, Yercaud, Palur and Coconut Research Station at Aliyar, Veppankulam, Agricultural Research Station, Pattukkottai and technical control of the Regional Research Station at Paiyur, Agricultural Research Station at Bhavanisagar and Tuber Crop Research Station at Yethapur. The Horticultural College and Research Institute at Coimbatore is situated within the premises of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. It is geographically situated in the tropical plain topography at 11° N Latitude, 77° E Longitude and at an altitude of 411 metres above Mean Sea Level (MSL). The Institute’s mandates are Education, Research and Extension. With respect to education, courses on crop improvement, crop production and post harvest management pertaining to fruits, vegetables, spices, plantations, floriculture and landscape gardening, medicinal and aromatic crops are taught in a comprehensive manner for various Post Graduate and Doctoral students. Research on crop improvement and crop management of the above crops is carried out with the objective of improving yield and quality, by way of releasing improved varieties and new technologies. In order to achieve the objective of ‘lab to land’ dissemination, extension tools such as Farmers’ mela and Exhibitions, Trainings, Seminars, Media (AIR and Paper), Farm Advisory Services etc., are being effectively used. Besides these tools, efficient dissemination of the released varieties and new technologies is achieved through regular updating of the TNAU website which enables reaching out to a wider group of stakeholders including the general public.