New research station to be set up in Idukki to ensure productivity in plantation sector

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A tea plantation in Idukki (Image for representation). | Photo Credit: Sandeep Vellaram

A new research station is being set up at the Government Engineering College, Idukki, to boost productivity across the plantation sector. According to officials, the State government has given approval to establish the facility, which aims to leverage innovative technology to revive a sector grappling with multiple crises.

Principal Manju Manuel, Philumon Joseph, and R. Sreekumar from the college serve as the principal investigators for the initiative, titled “Affordable Automation Technologies to Improve Productivity in the Plantation Sector.”

According to college authorities, the primary objective of the initiative is to deploy technology to address critical challenges faced by the plantation industry, including acute labour shortages, high production costs, rugged hilly terrain, and climate change. By integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and drone systems, the centre will develop cost-effective automation tools tailored for plantation crops. The project encompasses the design and field-testing of smart irrigation networks, robotic harvesters, and drone-assisted pest management solutions.

“Research will follow an interdisciplinary model involving the departments of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, and Information Technology. Beyond lab development, the centre’s mandate focusses on transferring viable technologies to farmers, deploying pilot projects in local estates, and solidifying industry-academia partnerships. It also aims to foster regional employment and agritech entrepreneurship by offering students hands-on internships, technical training, and research fellowships,” said an official.

Dr. Manuel noted that research will initially target four key cash crops: cardamom, tea, coffee, and nutmeg.

“Our primary goal is to develop tech-driven solutions that detect plant diseases early and protect crop yields,” Dr. Manuel said. “In the cardamom sector, for instance, early detection of rhizome rot using AI-powered cameras allows farmers to treat it promptly before losses mount. We are also working on mechanised harvesting systems for nutmeg during the peak harvest window. These practical, field-tested innovations form the core of our agenda.”

She added that the research team will consult with respective commodity boards to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment before rolling out field tests.

“Based on that assessment, we will identify specific interventions to counter chronic worker shortages, pest infestations, and falling output,” she noted.

The tea sector remains one of the hardest hit in the State, and industry stakeholders anticipate that automation could spur its recovery. Recently, Harrisons Malayalam Limited (HML) began deploying heavy-lift drones in Munnar to transport freshly plucked green tea leaves from steep hillsides directly to weighment centres and factories. Dr.