The Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) of the Coffee Board, which was pioneering the research activities, realized the need to open extension offices in the coffee growing areas of Southern India. It was in the early period of 1950 and onwards, few extension offices were opened with concentration in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, South Kerala and Waynad to disseminate the research findings to the growers for successful coffee cultivation. The CCRI, which was the flagship for the research programmes supported the planting community by supplying improved plant materials for vast expansion of coffee in South India. S.795, the seed material indigenously developed at CCRI was the improved selection strain that gained the confidence of planting community and large areas were expanded with this material. It had some resistance to leaf rust which was considered to be a major disease in coffee that was responsible for the vanishing coffee in Sri Lanka.

The release of improved progenies of Sanramon which has got better resistance and to certain extent immunity to leaf rust were accepted by the growers. The extension department during that period concentrated more on supply of planting materials and control of pests and diseases. For the benefit of Robusta coffee growers seeds of S.274, C x R and BR series were developed and distributed.

It was in the year 1977 that the extension department was bifurcated from the research fold and development programmes were intensified. More liberalized norms for subsidy schemes were introduced and a large section of planting community was benefited with those schemes implemented by the Board. Under the Expansion Subsidy scheme, large area under coffee was expanded and financial institutions were also participated in the scheme for which Board granted interest subsidy to the growers.

During IXth and Xth Plan periods, Coffee Board introduced Small Sector Development Scheme and Support to Small Grower Sector Scheme and these schemes are open to small coffee growers to rehabilitate the plantation by replanting, to install irrigation equipments, to augment water sources and to take up quality up-gradation programme, under which one can improve the infrastructure facility for drying and storing and also install the coffee pulping unit. Pollution abatement programme is also included under the SSGS programme. A large number of growers are benefited with these schemes.

The ongoing programmes of Coffee Board include the eco-friendly Catch and Kill programme of White Stem Borer and paying incentive to growers who participate in this programme and promoting of mini SHGs for raising seedlings for supply planting under WSB control programme Providing of more Self Help Groups in remote localities with one time grant in aid of upto Rs.2 lakhs and conducting of FPM workshops are the result oriented programmes being implemented. The Newer selections like SLN.5B, SLN.9, Sarchimore and C x R are the elite materials now recommended for the purpose of replanting.

Pests and Diseases
Coffee is exposed to some major pests and disease of which White Stem Borer is the major pest attacking Arabica coffee. The long dry spell, more exposure and coffee grown in lower elevation are some of the major factors responsible for the heavy buildup of White Stem Borer in Yercaud. Incidents of scale insects are also reported to be high at Yercaud. The discontinuance of pest and disease control programme and reduction in supply of inputs have aggravated the situation and large areas under coffee have been affected. Very recently the Coffee Berry Borer, which was unknown to Yercaud has made its entry and all efforts are being made to combat the pest effectively.

For the control of White Stem Borer, the Coffee Board launched an eco friendly Catch and Kill Programme under a pilot project during the last year and that has been continued during this year too. The different stages of pest collected by the growers have been pooled at SLO's Office, Yercaud and incentives were paid as per the norms.

During last year that is for the period from May to August 2003 a total amount of Rs.23,41,260/- towards incentives has been disbursed to 420 beneficiaries for pooling 10, 54,513 grubs, 11,613 Pupae and 39,519 adults. During the year 2004-05, catch and kill programme carried out in 2 phases - first phase was implemented from 12th April to 21 st May 2004. A total of Rs. 1,41,340/ - has been released to 66 growers for 72,653 grubs, 11605 Pupae and 7,591 Adults received at SLO's Office, Yercaud. In the 2nd phase launched from 13th September to 15th October 2004 a total of Rs. 5,05,620 as incentive to be released to 168 beneficiaries which accounts to 2,48,952 Grubs, 64,684 Pupae and 17,583 Adults pooled at SLO's, Office, Yercaud. The WSB control programme was very much successful and the impact made in controlling the WSB is commendable.

With a holistic and dedicated approach, the Extension Department is deeply involved in mobilizing coffee growers to produce quality coffee. Although there is an economic crisis among coffee growers, the growers in Shevaroy pay more attention to maintain the standard of cultivation practices and introduction of many associated crops like Pepper, Orange, Citrus and Banana which provide them additional income. It is worthy to state that large scale Banana cultivation once disintegrated in Pulneys, Yercaud, Sirumalai and Kolli Hills is coming up and the success of Banana cultivation again in these areas would pay additional and substantial income and that would add the success stories of Coffee plantation in Tamil Nadu.

Let us be optimistic that the coffee growers may have their hey days in a very near future.