THE EVOLUTION OF TEA RESEARCH IN SOUTHERN INDIA: UPASI’S PIONEERING JOURNEY
The United Planters' Association of Southern India (UPASI), established in 1893, serves as the premier organization representing planters and individuals involved in cultivating tea, coffee, rubber, pepper, and cardamom across the southern states of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. UPASI is unique in its broad scope, as no other global organization represents such a diverse range of plantation crops. Over its 131-year history, UPASI has played a pivotal role in advancing these key crops while also contributing to scientific and economic research, market promotion, industrial relations, scientific research, and infrastructure development.
The establishment of UPASI’s Tea Research Division marked a turning point in the scientific management of tea cultivation in South India. From the early days of experimental plantations in the 19th century to the formation of dedicated research institutions in the 20th century, UPASI has played an essential role in shaping the trajectory of tea research and development. This is an attempt to draw the humble beginnings of tea research in South India.
Tea Cultivation in Southern India and Early Challenges
Tea, native to Southeast Asia, is believed to have originated from an extensive fan-shaped region encompassing Assam in the northwest, China in the northeast, and southern Cambodia and Vietnam. From its original habitat, tea spread across the globe, with commercial cultivation now spanning over 80 countries. In India, the first known attempt to grow tea in the Nilgiris dates back to 1832, though it was largely unsuccessful. Another effort followed in 1834, using seeds from China, with some degree of success. Kerala saw its first commercial tea planting in Peermade in 1875. A significant milestone occurred in 1878 when James Finlay & Co. developed the Kanan Devan Hills as an exclusive tea plantation area. By 1889, large-scale tea planting had commenced in Wayanad, and by 1897, commercial tea cultivation had also taken root in the Anamallais. Karnataka joined the tea-growing landscape relatively later.
The expansion of tea cultivation in South India was closely tied to the decline of the coffee industry due to widespread leaf rust disease. As tea plantations proliferated across the Western Ghats, growers faced increasing challenges from pests and diseases, particularly blight. Recognizing the need for scientific intervention, discussions began on improving plant management, not just in tea but also in coffee and rubber. Responding to persistent appeals from planters’ associations, provincial governments began providing financial and scientific assistance. The first significant step was taken in 1909 when Mr. Rudolph Anstead, a scientific officer under the Madras Presidency’s Agriculture Department, was appointed as the first Planting Expert to serve plantation districts. He remained a vital support for planters over the next few decades.
Emergence of Scientific Research under Planters’ Associations
As the demand for scientific expertise grew, planters across various regions pressed for dedicated research facilities. By the 1920s, small experimental stations had been set up with government support in Travancore, Coimbatore, Coorg, and Mysore. These included the Tea Experimental Station, Peermade, Rubber Experimental Stations at Thenmalai and Mooply, and a Coffee Research Station in Sidapur. However, as the government shifted its stance, it reduced its role from providing both infrastructure and scientific support to offering only policy and scientific expertise while requiring planters to manage infrastructure themselves. Consequently, planters’ associations, along with UPASI, took on greater responsibility in funding research and hiring scientific officers.
In response to declining yields and increasing pest and disease related challenges, growers’ associations intensified their calls for dedicated scientific research. Championing the cause, the Mysore Government appointed Dr. Lehman as a Scientific Advisor to coffee plantations as early as in 1899, followed by a biologist in 1905 to focus on pests and diseases. In 1908, Dr. L. C. Coleman was appointed as an entomologist/mycologist, who, in collaboration with the Mysore Planters’ Association and UPASI, made significant strides in controlling black rot, scale insects, and stem borer in coffee crops. His pioneering efforts led to the establishment of the Coffee Experimental Station in Sidapur and later, a Coffee Research Station in Mysore.
UPASI formally established its Scientific Department during this period to provide research and innovation support for plantation crops. With assistance from the Travancore and Madras Governments, UPASI helped establish experimental stations for rubber in Mooply and Thenmalai, and for tea in Peermade. By 1921, UPASI spearheaded the establishment of a rubber research station in Mundakãyam, with Mr. Herbert Ashplant, a rubber mycologist, joining the station in May 1921 and leading early trials using Bordeaux mixture to combat Phytophthora disease.
Establishment of a Dedicated Scientific Department
By the early 1920s, South Indian planters recognized the need for dedicated scientific research in tea cultivation. The success of Assam’s Tea Research Association at Tocklai (established in 1911) and the founding of the Tea Research Institute in Ceylon in 1924 inspired the establishment of a similar research division under UPASI. In April 1923, an Indian Tea Association scientist visited South Indian tea districts for the first time. Mr. P. H. Carpenter, Chief Scientific Officer of ITA, travelled to Peermade, where he delivered detailed presentations on planting, weeding, manuring, and pest control. His expertise in the scientific aspects of tea captivated planters, leading to ongoing discussions and editorials throughout the year in the Planters’ Chronicle (UPASI’s official publication) on the significance of agricultural research.
Meanwhile, Mr. C. R. T. Congreve, a prominent planter and Member of the Madras Legislative Council from Anamallais, strongly advocated for an independent tea research division rather than relying on the Indian Tea Association (ITA) against the suggestions of organisations in London and Bangalore. His insistence on self-reliance led to the decision to appoint a tea specialist exclusively for South Indian planters. Mr. H. L. Pinches, then Chairman of UPASI, endorsed Congreve’s proposal and in UPASI constituted a sub-committee to look into the reorganisation of the Scientific Department which was then headed by Mr. D G Munro as the Deputy Director of Agriculture, Planting Districts. He was in charge of overseeing and advising on multiple aspects of growing not only Coffee but also Tea and Rubber.
The sub-committee report recommended appointing an officer with university qualifications in Botany and Chemistry to work on Tea, with headquarters at Peermade. It also suggested transferring the Deputy Director of Agriculture's office to The Nilgiris or another suitable planting district and handing over the rubber experimental station at Mundakkayam to the Rubber Mycologist. These reorganizations were implemented and the Scientific Department of UPASI became autonomous division with financial support extended by planter members, and Mr. Anstead, then Director of Agriculture, Madras, highlighted the significance of this self-reliant scientific department in applying science to agriculture in his speech at the Annual Meeting of UPASI in October 1923 in Bangalore.
Subsequently, as per the decision of the UPASI executive committee, Mr. D. G. Munro was sent to ITA in December 1924 to attend a week-long lecture course on tea science. In March 1925, Dr. W. S. Shaw was recruited as UPASI’s first Tea Scientific Officer. Additionally, Mr. Munro was promoted to General Scientific Officer, overseeing research in tea, coffee, and rubber, while Dr. Shaw was assigned further training under ITA in Assam.
The span of UPASI’s offices during this period was noteworthy. In June 1925, the UPASI headquarters was relocated from Bangalore to Madras, operating under Post Box number 155. The association’s official publication, Planters’ Chronicle, was published from Coimbatore, where the Chief Scientific Officer was also based. Experimental stations were active in Mooply, Thenmalai, Mundakkayam, Peermade, and Sidapur. Meanwhile, the labour departments operated through agents in Mysore, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Srivilliputhur, Palamcottah, and Nagercoil. This extensive network reflected UPASI’s comprehensive approach to supporting the plantation sector across South India.
The Birth of Tea Research Facility under UPASI
During his time at ITA, Dr. Shaw gained recognition among the planters’ community by publishing an article in Planters’ Chronicle on the Black Rot Disease of Tea. He arrived in Madras in April 1926 with his wife, who was also a science graduate. Over the following months, Mr. Munro and Dr. Shaw conducted extensive tours across South India, delivering lectures and providing advisory services to planters. Within six months of his arrival in Soth India, Dr. Shaw established the Tea Experimental Station at Nellakotta (Gudalur) in October 1926, moving into a newly constructed bungalow with his wife. By 1927, Dr. K.B.W. Jones, Assistant Scientific Officer had also been recruited to support him in research and estate visits.
This research station, fully funded and managed by UPASI with infrastructure support from the Nilgiri-Wynaad Planters’ Association, as well as the payment of acreage cess received from all the estate members in South India, evolved into what UPASI Tea Research Foundation (UPASI TRF) is today. The vision and leadership of Mr. J. A. Gwynne (UPASI Chairman, 1924-25), Mr. R. Fowke (UPASI Chairman, 1925-27), and Mr. H. Waddington (UPASI Secretary, 1919-30) were instrumental in establishing this pioneering research institution, which continues to be a cornerstone of scientific advancement in tea cultivation. Today, the UPASI Tea Research Foundation remains at the forefront of innovation, continuing its legacy of excellence in scientific research and support for the tea industry.
Expansion through Advisory Units
The Tea Experimental Station in Nellakotta, Tamil Nadu, was originally established based on the assumption that its location would become central as vast areas in Mysore were expected to be cultivated with tea. However, this assumption proved to be incorrect. Given that Nellakotta was situated at the northernmost range of South Indian tea plantations, it became evident that catering to the needs of planters across different growing regions in a timely manner was challenging. To address this issue, a decision was made to relocate the headquarters of the research station to a more centrally positioned location – Valparai (Tamil Nadu), in the Anamallai mountain range. Following this decision, the United Planters’ Association of Southern India (UPASI) acquired 63.3 hectares of land from the Government Cinchona Plantations. Construction of research laboratories and residential quarters began in 1961, but the complete relocation of the headquarters was only finalized by 1966.
Recognizing the need to extend research support to tea growers in other regions, UPASI expanded its presence further. In 1964, a substation was established in Vandiperiyar (Kerala) specifically to serve the requirements of tea planters in Peermedu and Central Travancore.
To ensure a systematic transfer of knowledge from scientists to the tea industry and facilitate the adoption of research-based agricultural practices, advisory centres were gradually set up in key tea-growing regions. The first such centre commenced operations in Munnar (High Range) in 1968, followed by additional centres in Coonoor (The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu) and Meppadi (Wayanad, Kerala) in 1971, Gudalur (Nilgiri-Wayanad, Tamil Nadu) in 1980, and Durgadbetta (Chikmagalur, Karnataka) in 1987. The Durgadbetta centre, which initially functioned from an estate, was later relocated to TRF’s own building in 2002. This move was strategically planned to position the centre more centrally in Koppa, ensuring better accessibility for the tea-growing regions of Karnataka.
These advisory units not only advise on all aspects of cultivation, plant protection, crop production and processing of tea but also undertake experiments relating to harvesting, planting, agronomy, pest control and bioefficacy. Through expansions and relocations, UPASI successfully created a well-distributed network of research and advisory facilities, playing a pivotal role in advancing tea cultivation across South India.
Formation of the UPASI Tea Research Foundation
In 1999, the UPASI Tea Scientific Department underwent a significant transformation with the establishment of the UPASI Tea Research Foundation (TRF). Recognizing the need for a more structured and efficient administration of scientific research related to tea cultivation, production, processing, and allied aspects, UPASI decided to form a dedicated foundation to oversee these activities.
The management of UPASI TRF is entrusted to a Board of Trustees, whose tenure lasts for three years. This board consists of a maximum of 15 members, nominated by the Executive Committee of UPASI. Additionally, the Government of India appoints two representatives through the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, while the Tea Board of India designates three representatives, including its Chairman. The day-to-day administration of the foundation is managed by a Management Committee, which includes six members from the Board of Trustees, nominated by UPASI, two members representing the Ministry of Commerce and the Tea Board, the Director of TRF, who serves as an ex officio member and the Secretary General of UPASI, who also serves as the Secretary of TRF.
Currently, the UPASI TRF operates through the Tea Research Institute (TRI) at Valparai along with its six Regional Advisory Centres, strategically located in Coonoor, Gudalur, Koppa, Munnar, Meppadi, and Vandiperiyar.
Location
The Tea Research Institute is located near the Nirar Dam in Valparai, in the Anamallai Hills, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu while the administrative/registered office located in Coonoor, The Nilgiris. The Research Institute situated at 1,050 m above MSL, is 120 km from Coimbatore city, 76 km from Pollachi and 12 km from Valparai town. Decennial average (2001-2010) rainfall of the Valparai is 3969 mm. The mean maximum and minimum temperatures are 26.0 and 15.4°C, respectively; the mean relative humidity varies from 76 to 89%. The Experimental Farm of UPASI has 63.27 hectares of land of which 48.0 ha are planted with vegetatively propagated clonal teas. The Tea Board had also handed over to TRI another 36.42 ha adjoining the Tea Experimental Farm. A part of this area is planted with the available commercial Camellia species and other genotypes including ornamental Camellias. This collection of germplasm has been recognized as the National Active Germplasm Site (NAGS) by the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR).
