Coffee plantations of Sherveroy Hills:

Coffee is cultivated in the Shevaroys range of hills on the slopes from between 900 Meters to 1,500 Meters. The entire range consists of 384 sq. kms of estates where Cultivation, Processing or Trade of Coffee, cultivation of Pepper and fruits are carried out. The mild temperature from between 13 C (56 F) to 29 C (84F), moderate rainfall 1,270 mm to 1,524 mm and the high elevation on Shevaroys provides ideal microclimatic conditions for the production of quality high grown Coffee, Pepper, Oranges and other fruit crops. M. M.D. Cockburn served as the Collector of Salem between 1820 to 1829 and he is credited with having introduced Coffee from Arabica in Grange Estate in 1825. It is said to have spread later to the Nilgiris from here. Mr. M.D. Cockburn also introduced Apples, Pears, Loquats and other fruits from South Africa in 1825. Between 1820 and 1929 the first survey was conducted and lands were assigned to Europeans for Coffee Cultivation at Re.1/- per acre. Employment opportunities to the local tribes available to them throughout the year on the newly opened Coffee Plantations. Labour was also recruited and brought in from the surrounding Hills - to establish and run the Plantations. ubsequently surveys were conducted in 1841 by Mr. H. Brett, Assistant Collector, Salem and in 1866 by Mr. Dravid Arguthnot, Collector of Salem and land was assigned to German, Scottish, French and English Planters. The Yercaud Club consisted of European Planters only, till 1949 when Mr.M.S.P. Rajesh was admitted as the first Indian Member. . The European Planters started selling their estates and leaving Yercaud in the 1950's. M.S.P Nadar families could make major entry into owning plantation estate and contributed a lot to Nadar educational institutions.