1. Establishment : 1.4.1998 
2. Area               : 11.25ha. 
3. Place              : Yethapur, Attur (Taluk ), Salem District. 

4. Location         : North Western Zone of Tamil Nadu on the Salem – Ulundurpet NH 68 
                            (35km from Salem) 
5. Climate and soil : 
    Latitude : 11° 35´ N 
    Longitude : 78° 29´ E 
    Altitude : 282m above MSL 
    Climatic Classification : Semi Arid Tropic 
    Mean Annual Rainfall : 762 mm in 42 rainy days 
    Crop Growing Period : 134 days from 27th (July 2-8 )to 45th (Nov 4 -11) standard weeks 
    Mean Maximum Temp. : 29.4°C to 38.0°C (Nov and May ) 
    Mean Minimum Temp. : 18.6°C to 28.4°C (Jan and May ) 
    Soil Type : Fine ,mixed Isohyperthermic Typic Rhodustalf 

Mandate : 

• To undertake basic and strategic research in tapioca and castor 

• To act as a lead centre for scientific information and to co-ordinate problem solving issues in tapioca and castor. 

• To introduce new technologies for increasing the productivity in tapioca and castor. 

• To act as a centre for training farmers and extension functionaries. 

• To provide consultancy service on crop management and crop protection in tapioca and castor 

7. Objectives 

• Genetic improvement of tapioca and castor for hybrid vigour , productivity , quality , earliness , drought tolerance and resistance to pests and diseases. 

• Development of new agro-techniques for higher productivity and to overcome the field problems. 

• Studies on different physiological , bio-chemical and economic aspects 

• Development of post-harvest technology and management of factory effluent

• Survey , monitoring and control of major pests and diseases.

8. Schemes in operation

• Plan – TCRS Main 

• ICAR – AICORPO Castor 

• ICAR – Front Line Demonstration (FLD) -Castor 

• ICAR – AICRP – Tuber Crops 

• ICAR – Soil Test Crop Response (Sub-Centre) – (STCR) 

• ICAR – Cost of Cultivation of Principal Crops – (CCPC) 

• PAS – SBI - Project Uptech 

9. ON-GOING RESEARCH PROGRAMMES

TAPIOCA : 
CROP IMPROVEMENT 
i. Genetic improvement of tapioca for development of new varieties / hybrids 

CROP MANAGEMENT 
i. Research on propagation techniques, field demonstrations on the technologies to increase the production and productivity of tapioca. 
ii. Sett treatment for increasing the germination and productivity. 
iii. Bio-fertilizer research 
iv. Distribution of disease free planting materials of improved varieties. 

CROP PROTECTION 
i. Research on management of key pests , ICMV and tuber rot. 

CASTOR 
CROP IMPROVEMENT 
i. Genetic improvement of castor for development of new varieties / hybrid. 
ii. Evaluation of different varieties and hybrids 

CROP MANAGEMENT 
i. Research on intercropping in castor 
ii. Weed management 
iii. Nutrient requirement including secondary and micronutrients for rainfed and irrigated hybrid castor 
iv. Seed treatment for yield maximization 
v. Front line demonstrations in hybrid castor 

CROP PROTECTION 
i. Management of key pests and screening of genotypes for resistance to pests 
ii. Management of botrytis grey rot and screening of genotypes for resistance to botrytis 

10. EXTENSION : 
i. T&V monthly zonal meeting of Salem district 
ii. Pre kharif and Pre-rabi training to extension functionaries of department of agriculture 
iii. Imparting training to extension functionaries, farmers , farm women and FDG conveners 
iv. Front line demonstrations and On-farm demonstrations in tapioca and castor 
v. Dissemination of technologies through mass media , booklets , phamphlets and leaflets 
vi. Farm advisory services 

11. SCIENTISTS 

1. Dr.K. Shanmugam , Ph.D., Professor and Head 
2. Dr.R.S. Azhakia Manavalan, Ph.D.,Professor of Horticulture 
3. Dr.S. Venkatesan, Ph.D.,Professor of Entomology 
4. Dr.A. Govindan, Ph.D.,Assistant Professor (Agrl. Botany ) 
5. Dr.R. Ushakumari, Ph.D.,Associate Professor (Pl. Breeding) 
6. Th. N. Selvaraju, Assistant Professor ( Agronomy ) 
7. Tmt.T. Saraswathi, Assistant Professor (Horticulture ) 
8. Dr.V. Jayalakshmi, Ph.D.,Assistant Professor (Pl. Pathology ) 
9. Dr. R. Jegathambal, Ph.D.,Assistant Professor (Seed Science and Technology ) 
10. Th.K.M. Sivakumar,Assistant Professor (Agrl. Economics ) 
11. Dr.B. Geetha, Ph.D.,Research Associate (Entomology ) 
12. Th. M. Vijayakumar, Senior Research Fellow 
13 Tmt.K.L Renuka,Junior Research Fellow 

Contact Address : 

Dr.K. Shanmugam, Ph.D., 
Professor and Head, 
Tapioca and Castor Research Station, 
Yethapur, Puthiragoundanpalayam (Post) – 636 119 
Attur (Tk ) , Salem District 
Phone No . : 04282 - 221901 
e-mail ID : phtcrs@sancharnet.in 
.