The genesis of department of Spices and Plantation Crops has come into existence during the year 1972 after the establishment of Horticultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore during the same year.

The main objective of this department is to undertake education, research and extension work in spices and plantation crops. From this department the scientists are offering specialization courses for undergraduate, post graduate and doctoral programme of the University.

Need based research programmes were taken up both in the University plan scheme and in ICAR. Training to farmers, Extension officers of the department and consultancy services are also offered on demand.

During 2004 onwards separate M.Sc. and Ph.D Degree programmes were offered from this department. The department is well equipped with various analysers and analytical laboratory.   Breeding and value addition are the predominant activities of the department. 

The infrastructural facilities like cold storage, deep freezer and BOD incubators, photosynthetic system  are available for analytical experimentation.  The faculty are experts on commercial crops of national and international importance.