Genesis
The Department of Spices and Plantation Crops was established during 1979 as a constituent department of Horticultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore and since then, intensive research, education and extension activities are pursued to promote spices and plantation crops cultivation. The spices research was strengthened during the fifth five year plan on turmeric, coriander, fennel and fenugreek under the AICRP on spices. Research on various spice crops has been in progress at TNAU since 1971. The Department is concerned with the research and developmental activities of spice crops like Turmeric, Coriander Fenugreek, Fennel, Tamarind, Curry leaf and Ginger and Plantation Crops like Coconut and Cocoa. Germplasm collections of various spice and plantation crops are maintained in the department. Besides UG degree programmes, this department is offering M.Sc. (Hort.) Plantation, Spices Medicinal and Aromatic Crops and Ph. D. (Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops) courses to the students.