VANDIPERIYAR

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Regional Centre, Vandiperiyar, Central Travancore

The unique and magnetic attraction of Kerala “God’s own country”, is centered on its mountain regions, the highland area in the western ghats, in which the plantation district of Central Travancore is located. The area is one of the most beautiful and scenic parts of the Western Ghats. Crops grown in this area are tea, coffee, pepper, vanilla and cardamom. Central Travancore boasts of many places of tourist interest of international fame and occupies a pride of place on the tourist map of Kerala. Thekkady, India’s largest wildlife sanctuary, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary spread over an area of 777 sq km is surrounded by an artificial lake extending over an area of 25 sq km. The sanctuary has been declared a tiger reserve. The world famous Idukki arch dam is located adjacent to this sanctuary.

This region comprises of Peermade-Vandiperiyar zone of Idukki revenue district. This is one of the oldest planting districts of South India. Tea estates are situated at elevations varying from 750 m to 1,350 m above mean sea level. Annual rainfall ranges from a minimum of 2,000 mm in the Vandiperiyar area to a maximum of 6,000 mm in the Peermade zone. On an average, the dry spell extends to about 90 -150 days. The average minimum temperature is in the range of 18 to 20°C but can drop to about 5°C during winter months. The maximum temperature can even touch to 35°C during the summer months. The total area under tea cultivation is about 15,000 ha, with an annual production of about 20 million kilogram. Congregation of small tea growers, perhaps next to the Nilgiris, gives importance to the tea sector of this district. Besides tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom are also grown in a sizeable area. The famous ‘Cardamom Hill Reserve’ is located in Central Travancore region of Kerala.

UPASI TRF Regional Centre was established in 1964 to cater to the needs of the tea planters in Vandiperiyar and Peermade region. The present jurisdiction of this centre extends to other plating districts such as Highwavys, Singampatty group, Nagarcoil and South Travancore. This centre extends services to the estates and small tea growers on all aspects of tea cultivation. Prolonged soil moisture stress and havoc caused by insects and mite pests are the characteristics of Central Travancore region. Hence, this centre gives thrust on research activities on the pest management aspects. The quality control laboratory, which was established during 2006, has all facilities for analysis of soils, Caffeine, PFA & Liquor parameters of tea, Lime sulphur and soil amendments. Quantification of iron filings in the made tea is also possible at the laboratory.

Region specific multilocational experiments on agronomy, physiology and plant protection are being taken at the regional centre.

News & Events

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Articles

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  • Publications

    Radhakrishnan,B., K. K. Srikumar, Smitha, K. B. Suresh. 2018. Evaluation of Sulfoxaflor 50%WG against Tea mosquito bug, Helopeltistheivora Waterhouse (Hemiptera: Miridae). Pestology. 42 (3), 31-36. Radhakrishnan, B. 2018. Recent issues on pesticide residues and other contaminants in Tea. Planters chronicle. 114(1): 4-11. Radhakrishnan B. and…

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  • Latest

    12/12/12

    The principal landmark in the history of tea research in south India, was the establishment of a Tea Experimental Station in Gudalur in 1926. During the last seven and half decades, this research organisation. Now known as the UPASI Tea Research Foundation (UPASI TRF), had…

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  • Publications and Library

    01/02/05

    Annual Report is the one among the major publications of UPASI TRF. Annual report of each year is released by September of the following year. Other publications include Research Highlights and half yearly Newsletters. The Bulletin of UPASI TRF is an occasional publication. The Handbook…

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Conferences Seminars

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  • National Symposium Announcement

    DATE:  22nd Jannuary, 2021

    PLACE:  

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  • PLACROSYM XXI

    DATE:  10-12 December 2014

    PLACE:  Kozhikode

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  • Research Extension Meeting

    DATE:  06-08 May 2013

    PLACE:  Valparai

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  • JOINT AREA SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIA (JASS)

    DATE:  

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  • INTERNATIONAL TEA CONVENTION

    DATE:  

    PLACE:  

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  • TGLIA

    DATE:   2013

    PLACE:  

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  • Dr.C.S. Venkata Ram Annual Tea Colloquium

    DATE:  1 August 2013

    PLACE:  VALPARAI

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  • INTERACTIVE SESSIONS / WORKSHOPS

    DATE:  28/04/2012

    PLACE:  VALPARAI

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  • PLATINUM JUBILEE SYMPOSIUM

    DATE:  2001

    PLACE:  Chennai

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  • PLANTATION CROPS SYMPOSIUM 2014

    DATE:  2014

    PLACE:  

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Research Activities

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  • Pesticide Residue

    Of late, considering the constant usage of pesticides and to monitor the residues in the final produce, a well equipped test facility was established at UPASI TRI in 1994. The pesticide residue laboratory is accredited by National Accreditation Board for testing and calibration Laboratories (NABL)…

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  • Botany

    The Tea Research Institute at Valparai has seven divisions namely Botany, Soil Chemistry, Entomology, Pesticide Residue, Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Plant Physiology & Biotechnology and Tea Technology. Botany Research activities of Botany Division include plant improvement, cultivation practices and weed research. Plant improvement programme was…

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  • Soil Chemistry

    Chemistry Division is involved in research pertaining to soil-plant nutrients of tea besides extending analytical service to the industry. The research activities include investigations on physico-chemical properties of soil, soil-plant interactions, response of tea to major, secondary and micronutrients and their interactions. The research work…

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  • Entomology

    Entomology Division involve in basic and applied aspects of insect pests, particularly, biology, ecology and evolving control measures. The division evolved and recommended physical, chemical and biological method of tea pests control. In the past, extensive studies on bioecology, crop loss due to major pests…

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  • Pathology & Microbiology

    In the division of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, research is carried out on diseases of tea and biofertilizers. Among the tea diseases, blister blight is the most important leaf disease caused by the pathogen, Exobasidium vexans affecting the tender harvestable shoots of tea resulting in…

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  • Physiology & Biotechnology

    Plant Physiology Division was established in 1980 which has been primarily concentrated on crop productivity. The division strives for excellence in applied research in tea productivity and bush health besides biotechnological studies. The research undertaken extends over a wide range of research programmes having collaborative…

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  • Tea Technology

    Besides offering the analytical services and involving in inter laboratory ring test to validate the test methods, Tea Technology Division is concerned about quality of final produce in accordance with PFA Act requirements, storage studies, value added products and manufacturing aspects. The laboratory has been…

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