SPICES BOARD

Ministry of Commerce & Industry SPICE

Government of India

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Sugandha Bhavan
P.B. No. 2277
INDIA
¦ÉÉ®úiÉ Palarivattom P.O. A journal devoted to the promotion of
Cochin - 682025
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Chairman : C.J. Jose IAS
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Chief Editor : Dr. P.S. Sreekantan Thampi
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IN THIS ISSUE
Deputy Director (Publicity)
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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 BIOGAS SLURRY – AN EXCELLENT LIQUID
Editor : S. Palanichamy
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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 MANURE 2
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Publisher : V.K. Krishnan Nair
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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 J. Thomas and T. Ramesh
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(Secretary)
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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 MANAGEMENT OF QUALITY FARM YARD
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Editorial Advisory Committee
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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 MANURE 5
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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Dr. Raj Pal Meena
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S. Kannan
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Director (Marketing)
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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 USE GOOD QUALITY FARM YARD MANURE
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Dr. J. Thomas
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Director (Research)
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Dr. Joseph Thomas
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T.D. John
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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 NEW SPICES VARIETIES 12
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Director (Development) (Incharge)
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K.V. Ramana, Johny A. Kallupurackal and K.N.
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SPICE INDIA
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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 THE FLAVOURS OF ZURICH 17
PUBLISHED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN
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ENGLISH, MALAYALAM, TAMIL, KANNADA,
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TELUGU, HINDI AND NEPALI
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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 BIO-NUTRITION AND BIO-ENERGY 20
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
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1 year - Rs. 50/-
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5 years - Rs. 200/-
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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Dr. M. Balasundaran
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Subscription may be sent either by M.O. or
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Bank Draft drawn in favour of
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the Secretary, Spices Board, Cochin, India
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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 PRODUCTS 32
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* * *
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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Madan Lal
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The views expressed by the contributors are not
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necessarily those of the Spices Board
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Tel : 0484-2333610-616, 2347965
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E-mail : 1. spicesboard@vsnl.com
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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 Alice Kurian, E. V. Nybe, P. A. Valsala and M. Asha
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Cover printed at :
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Niseema Printers, Cochin
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Kaloor, Cochin - 17
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123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012345678901 IMPORTANT SPICES – DECEMBER 44

Vol. XVII NOVEMBER - 2004 No. 11 SPICES STATISTICS 51

©

Liquid manure/fertilizers
are being increasingly used in
intensive management of
various spices, especially
cardamom, either through foliar
or irrigation or direct
application to the soil. Urea, di-
ammonium phosphate (DAP),
muriate of potash (MOP),
Multi-K, many commercial
formulations of complex
fertilizers, various
micronutrients etc are the
common liquid fertilizers in
use. In an organic system of
farming or otherwise, bio-gas
slurry is an excellent liquid
BIOGAS SLURRY – AN EXCELLENT
LIQUID MANURE
J. Thomas and T. Ramesh
Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Spices Board, Myladumpara, Idukki
manure that could be produced
in the farm through effective
recycling of animal dung.
Biogas slurry is the
residual effluent after
fermentation of organic waste
and animal dung from the
biogas plant. The liquid effluent
from the animal anaerobic
digester is relatively stable
product as compared to the
influent. It contains some
undigested solids and stabilized
solids. It is darker in colour as
compared to the original
material. Biogas production is
a technique of anaerobic
digestion of organic wastes
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2004
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mainly animal dung through
which an efficient fuel gas i.e.
biogas and digested slurry with
higher manurial value can be
obtained.
Biogas slurry contains
macro and micro-nutrients and
its application can improve
physical, chemical and
biological properties of soil. In
India, it is estimated that nearly
16 lakhs biogas plants have
been installed of which 85
percent plants are in operation
at a given time; from which
around 27.2million tonnes of
bio-digested slurry is being
obtained every year. In general,
during fermentation in the gas
plant, 27 percent of the added
dung is converted into
combustible gas and a residue
of 73 percent becomes
available for use as manure.
The biogas plant will be more
economical only when the
biogas slurry could also be used
effectively as a liquid manure
in addition to the production of
biogas.
Bio-digested slurry is a
good source of macro-nutrients
(1.5 to 2 percent nitrogen, one
percent phosphorus and one
percent potassium) and fair
SPICE
INDIA
amount of micronutrients like
zinc, iron, magnese and copper.
One tonne of biogas slurry, on
dry weight basis, is equivalent
to approximately 18 kg
nitrogen, 10 kg phosphorus
and 8 kg potassium or in other
worlds equivalent to 40kg of
urea 63kg of single super
phosphate and 14kg of muriate
of potash. Since anaerobic
fermentation takes place in the
biogas plant, there will be a
reduction in loss of organic
matter by 25 to 30 percent with
a subsequent increase in the
ammonia nitrogen by 120
percent and available
phosphorous by 150 percent as
compared to aerobic
decomposition of organic
waste.
The residual slurry left
after digestion contains the
whole of nitrogen, phosphorus
and other nutrients present in
the cattle dung and its manurial
value is superior to that of
traditional farm yard manure or
conventional composting.
Freshly digested biogas slurry
has mineralized nitrogen to the
extent of 21 percent compared
with 16 percent nitrogen in
compost which shows the
2

advantage of anaerobically
fermented manure over aerobic
digestion. In biogas slurry,
almost the whole ammonia is
lost when the slurry is dried in
the sun. Hence, there is a
advantage of using the fresh
bio-digested slurry as liquid
manure for crop production
after dilution.
Biogas slurry can be
applied to field through
irrigation water or applied to
individual plants after dilution
using rose can. Farmers who
use biogas slurry reports to
have obtained higher yield of
many crops as compared to
other methods of application.
Because of the high solubility
of the ammonia in water, and
better infiltration in soil slurry
application give better result
than surface application of
solid farm yard manure.
The nitrogen content of
biogas slurry is directly linked
to nitrogen content of feed
material and using some
protein rich organics along
with animal dung as feed
material in the gas plant can
increase the nitrogen content.
Further, the beneficial effect of
biogas slurry could be
improved by mixing with
inorganic fertilizer nitrogen
(urea) and phosphorus,
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2004
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biofertilizers, vermi compost
and cattle urine etc. whatever
integrated nutrient
management practices are
adopted.
There are reports adopted
that enrichment of biogas
slurry with gypsum @ 250kg
per 10 tonnes of wet biogas
slurry is more advantageous in
increasing crop yield than
slurry alone. This is mainly
because of cumulative effect
combining biogas slurry, a
good source of organic matter
(66.55 percent) and gypsum
containing calcium (21.6
percent) and sulphur (17.32
percent).
The advantages of bio-
digested slurry as organic
manure
Higher productivity of
many agricultural and
horticultural crops due to
improved soil fertility. It act as
a valuable organic manure, not
only supplying plant nutrients
slowly but also improves the
soil properties like structure,
water holding capacity, cations
exchange capacity, reduction
in soil erosion and provides
energy for the activity of soil
micro flora which in turn
increases soil productivity.
SPICE
INDIA
It is highly useful in rain
fed condition due to its higher
water holding capacity, which
makes the plants tolerant to
moisture stress.
It also found to be
suitable for seed coating; and
can be fortified with bio
fertilizer such as azospirillum
and phopobacteria. This
enhances seed germination,
seedling establishment and
induces vigour to crops.
Use of biogas slurry
reduces the growth of weeds to
a great extent as the seeds of
weeds are digested in the
biogas plant;
It could be used as a
starter for composting of other
waste materials like leaves,
straw etc. and an excellent
medium for preparation of
extended Effective
microorganism or other
organic liquid manure.
There are certain
constraints while using this
liquid manure. The field should
not be away from the site of the
bio-gas plant and farmers may
have to store it for use
whenever required. Biogas
slurry application during rainy
season is reported to induce
diseases in sensitive crops like
vanilla l
3
 SPICE
INDIA
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November
2004 4

Good quality FYM (farm yard
manure) is perhaps the most
valuable organic matter applied
to the soil and it is most
commonly used organic manure
in India. The term FYM (farm
yard manure) consists of a
mixture of decomposed dung and
urine of animals along with
bedding material and left over
material of fodder fed to the
cattle. Good quality and well
rotten farm yard manure (FYM)
on an average contains 0.5 % N,
0.2 % P2O5, and 0.5 % K2O5.
MANAGEMENT OF QUALITY
FARM YARD MANURE
Dr. Raj Pal Meena, Jr. Scientist, Division of Agronomy and Soil Science
1CRI, Spices Board, Myladumpara
Though its crop yield
increasing value has been
recognized from time
immemorial, more than 50 per
cent of the cattle dung produced
in the country is brunt as fuel
and is thus lost to agriculture.
Not only this tremendous waste
but also the traditional method
of preparing and storing of
FYM is normally faulty.
Unfortunately most of the
farmers are not bothered about
the collection of animal urine,
litter and left over material that
is the potent source of plant
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2004
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With the proper care
and good
management of
dung, urine and litter
for preparing farm
yard manure, almost
all of the manure
and fertility elements
originally present in
the excreta of cattle
can be saved and
returned to the soil.
nutrients. Urine of all animals
contains more percentage of
nitrogen and potassium
compared to the dung portion
as farm yard manure consists
of two original components
dung and urine. Both the dung
and urine contains N, P2O5 and
K2O approximately half of the
nitrogen and potash is in dung
and other half in urine. On the
other hand almost all of the
phosphorus is in the dung only.
A study on the distribution of
elements between urine and
dung of cows has shown that
SPICE
INDIA
95 per cent of potassium, 63 per
cent of nitrogen and 50 per cent
of sulphur are contained in the
urine. The loss of nitrogen (in
the form of ammonia) due to
fermentation of exposed cattle
dung and the washing away of
soluble mineral elements by
leaching reduce its manurinl
potential. To retain the all N,
P2O5 and K2O it is must that
both dung and urine of animal
are collect and stored properly.
If only solid portion i.e. dung
is collected and urine is left or ➣
neglected then the composition
of farm yard manure is certainly
not up to mark that is 0.5
percent N, 0.2 percent P2O5 and
0.5 percent K2O (This is the
average standard of FYM).
Failure to recover or retain the
urine of farm animals results in
a serious loss. Under Indian
conditions the floor of the cattle
shed is usually uncemented. As
such the urine pass by animals
get soaked into the floor and
secondly large quantities of
nitrogen are thus lost through
the formation or gaseous
5

ammonia. The smell of
ammonia in the callle shed
clearly indicates the lost of
nitrogen from farm yard
manure. This is the big loss
before collection of farm yard
manure from cattle shed.
LOSS DURING STORAGE
Generally the collected
cattle dung litter and wastes of
fodder are put in manure heaps
in an open space. During this
period the manure remains
exposed to the direct sunlight
and rain. The loose heaps lie
exposed to the sun, with the
result that the raw organic
matter dries up quickly and
does not rot properly. Very
often a part of the dung is
blown off by wind or washed
away by rain. During such type
of storage, nutrients are lost by
the several ways.
1. Leaching :- When the
manure is exposed to the
rain water the losses are
occurs because the water
soluble constituents of
solid portion are
removed. About 50
percent of the nitrogen,
16-17 percent of
phosphorus and around
90 percent of potash are
readily soluble and
subject to dissipation.
These water-soluble
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2004
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nutrients are subjected
washed off by rainwater.
2. Volatilization :- During
storage considerable
amount of ammonia is
produced in the manure
heap from the
decomposition of urea and
other nitrogenous
compounds of the urine.
This ammonia combines
with carbonic acid to form
ammonium carbonate.
These ammonium
compounds are unstable
and readily liberated in to
the atmosphere. This loss
is more with more
temperature when the
farmers are stored the
farm yard manure in the
open spaces without
protection from direct
sunlight and rainfall.
HANDLING OF FARM
YARD MANURE FOR
BETTER QUALITY
Improved methods of
handling reduce the nutrient
losses considerably. The loss of
nitrogen and other mineral
elements caused by careless
handling can be reduced greatly
by using an absorbent bedding
for cattle, storing dung in
cemented trenches, mixing
large quantities of straw and
other vegetable matter with
cattle dung and keeping the
SPICE
INDIA
heap compact and moist.
However, this is impossible to
check completely the losses of
nutrients from farm yard
manure during storing.
The manure preparation
should be done in trenches of
suitable size. Normally 1.0 to
1.5 metre width and 1.0 metre
deep trench with required
length say six to seven metre is
used for preparing the manure.
All available dry litter and other
dry material from farm and
dairy farm should be collected
near the cattle shed. The
portion of this dry litter should
be spread in the animal shed in
the evening time. The quantity
of litter beneath the animal
should be sufficient for the
absorption of urine roughly at
the rate of 2.0 to 2.5 kg dry
matter per animal. The litter
must be put in the areas where
urine is normally drops and
absorb by the ground. During
morning time the dung and
urine soaked litter should be
collected mixed and should be
taken to the manure trench. A
portion of trench around 1.0 to
1.5 metre length of the trench
from one end should be taken
up for filling with daily
collection of dung, urine
soaked litter and other farm
waste material that is decay-
able from the cattle shed and
6

farms. When the section is
filled up to a height of 50 cm
above ground level, the top of
the heap is made dome shaped
and plastered over with dung
and soil slurry. Plastered with
2.5 cm layer of a mixture of
mud and dung in equal
proportion. Before plastering
few buckets of water should be
added to the manure in the pit.
Plastering conserves moisture
and nitrogen and also prevents
the house fly nuisance. When
the trench is completely filled
up that is depend on the number
of cattle that is maintained on
the dairy farm a second trench
that is similar in size is taken
up for filling in the similar
passion. When the second
trench is filled up by that time
(about three - four months) the
manure in the first trench would
be decomposed and ready to
use. This can be taken out for
application to the filled or for
sale and the same trench can be
reused for manure application.
Thus, if urine is properly
conserved, the loss of soluble
mineral elements through
seepage is prevented, bacterial
decomposition of raw organic
matter is encouraged, and plant
nutrients are made soluble and
losses are minimized.
If cattle shed is cemented
and urine is not conserved in
the bedding it must be collected
in a covered cistern and then
added to the dung in the
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2004
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manure.
Normally two trenches
would be sufficient to carry out
the manure preparation round
the year for a farmer having
three to five numbers of cattle.
The farm yard manure
prepared by this method usually
contains at least 0.7 0.8 percent
nitrogen on the dry weight basis
or 1.4 - 1.6 per cent nitrogen on
the dry weight basis.
With the proper care and
good management of dung,
urine and litter for preparing
farm yard manure, almost all of
the manure and fertility
elements originally present in
the excreta of cattle can be
saved and returned to the soil.
Points about construction of
trench
1. Trench should be construct
close to dairy farm (cattle
shed) to avoid the much
labour to transport the dung
and other material from
cattle shed to manuring
trench.
2. The trench always should
be made under permanent
shade that is protect the
farm yard manure from
direct sunlight and
rainwater
3. Trench should be cemented
to avoid the leaching losses
of nutrients.
4. Adjoining to trench a
cemented platform under
shade must be constructed
SPICE
INDIA
to facilitate the emptied of
trench and storing and
bagging of decomposed
farm yard manure
5. Ripened and decomposed
farm yard manure should
be bagged immediately or
stored in cool and dark
shade that protect from
temperature, sunlight and
water.
Management of FYM
during application in filed.
Under field conditions
most of the farmers unload the
FYM in heaps at roadside
before application or in small
piles in the filed. The manure
is left in piles for a longer
period says 15 days, a month
or more; this practice is lead to
loss of nutrients. Plant nutrients
are lost through heating,
wetting and drying. Further
manure is spread on surface but
not mixed with soil forever, or
for several days leading to lose
of its potentiality.
Major loss through quick
heating, wetting and drying of
FYM is of nitrogen, also losses
of other nutrients but lesser than
nitrogen.
To get the maximum
benefit from FYM, this is must
that it should not be kept in
small piles before spreading but
it should be immediately spread
evenly and mixed with the soil
immediately l
7

HUNGARIAN GOVERNMENT BANS
PAPRIKA SALES
The Associated Press
and Reuters reported on
October 28 that the
Hungarian Government has
banned the sale of paprika
due to aflatoxin
NATURAL PRODUCTS EXPO IN
SINGAPORE IN DECEMBER
Natural Products Expo
Asia 2004 is scheduled to be
held at the Hong Kong
Convention and Exhibition
Centre in Hong Kong during
December 1 to 3, 2004. This
exhibition will feature
natural foods, organics,
functional foods, vitamins,
IFT INVITES NOMINATION FOR
ANNUAL AWARDS
The Institute of Food
Technologists Chicago is
accepting nominees for its
annual Achievement Awards
and for recognition as IFT
Fellow, and is actively
seeking qualified candidates
to consider for formal
acknowledgement of
professional accomplis-
November
2004
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contamination. News reports
indicate that 50,000 tonnes of
Hungarian paprika are
exported each year and it is
not known if any of the
contaminated spice was
exported.
supplements, natural
personal care products, raw
ingredients, herbal products,
contract -manufacturing and
supply-related equipments
and services. More details
can be had from website:
www.naturalproductsasia.com
hments. IFT is a no-profit
scientific society with 26,000
members from food
technology, related sectors,
academic and government.
IFT Achievement
Awards recognize outstanding
contributions in a variety of
fields related to food science
SPICE
INDIA
and technology and to the
education of students entering
the profession. IFT presents
more than a dozen
Achievement Awards
annually. Presentations will
take place during opening
ceremonies of the IFT Annual
Meeting + Food Export to be
held in July 16-20, 2005 in
New Orleans. For
Achievement Awards
descriptions and a nomination
form visit the IFT web site at
www.ift.org/cms/
?pid=1000292. Achievement
Award nominations are due
December 1, 2004.
An IFT Fellow is a
unique professional
distinction conferred on
individuals who have been
IFT Members for 15 years and
a Professional Member at the
time of nomination. To obtain
the IFT Fellow nomination
form and instructions visit the
IFT web site, www.ift.org/
cms/?pid=1000289. Deadline
for receipt of IFT Fellow
nominations is February 1,
2005.
For more information
contact Patti Pagliuco, IFT
Member Programs Manager,
at 312-782-8424 and
pgpagliuco@ift.org
8
 SPICE
INDIA
º{ÉÉ<ºÉäºÉ
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FOWLER WESTRUP

November
2004 9

USE GOOD QUALITY FARM YARD
MANURE FOR A HEALTHY CROP
Dr. Joseph Thomas Sr.Scientist, ICRI Myladumpara
Farm yard manure (FYM)
is an inevitable form of organic
manure in almost all crops. It is
relatively rich in nutrients,
comparatively less expensive
and ideal manure for regular use.
Until recently, the use of FYM
in cardamom and vanilla was
only limited. However, aiming at
boosting the production of crop,
the use of FYM in various forms
has increased many fold. Well
decomposed, dried and
hygienically processed cow dung
is the ideal form for use in
cardamom and vanilla. Contrary
to this, presently, its use has been
diversified in various forms such
as, application of fresh cow dung,
cow dung in slurry form, effluent
from the bio gas plants,
fermented slurry of a mixture of
cow dung and oil cakes etc. All
these forms temporarily boost the
growth and vigour of plants.
Among these, diluted slurry from
the bio gas plant is better and
safe. The other forms have
certain adverse effects on plants
in one way or other such as root
decay, infection by pathogenic
fungi etc.
November
2004
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Incidence and spread of
relatively new diseases caused
by the fungal pathogen, namely
Fusarium oxysporum has
become a severe problem in
cardamom and vanilla in recent
years. In cardamom, this
pathogen causes root tip rot
followed by leaf yellowing, stem
rot and panicle tip drying, and in
vanilla, root rot and basal rots.
These diseases are being noticed
more in areas where improperly
processed cow dung is used
frequently and in excess
quantities. FYM brought from
areas where fusarial disease
prevails or that processed un
hygienically or in the vicinity
of infested soils containing the
fungal inoculum which at a later
stage can cause rot or wilt
diseases in plants. Therefore,
cow dung has to be judiciously
used with adequate precaution.
The following guidelines may
help is selecting the type of cow
dung forms for use.
1. Always use well
decomposed and dried cow
dung.
SPICE
INDIA
2. Avoid the application of
fresh cow dung or water
suspension of fresh cow
dung.
3. If slurry is used, ascertain
that it is well fermented and
suitably diluted.
4. Reduce the quantity and
frequency of slurry to three
or four times a year giving
at least two to three
months gap between the
rounds of application.
Avoid using slurry during
raining period or when soil
moisture is high.
5. Avoid the use of cow dung
processed un hygienically
or that brought from fungus
infested areas.
6. The cow dung if found to be
infested with pathogen may
be further composted and
then only used.
7. Disease affected plant
portions or mulches
should not be mixed with
cow dung either for
composting or for mulching
purpose l
10
 SPICE
INDIA
º{ÉÉ<ºÉäºÉ
¦ÉÉ®úiÉ

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November
2004 11

New Spices Varieties
K.V. Ramana, Johny A. Kallupurackal and K.N. Shiva
Indian Institute of Spices Research, Marikunnu, Calicut – 673 012, Kerala
Our country is blessed
with varied agroclimatic
conditions suitable to grow
almost all spices from the
tropical black pepper to
temperate saffron. About 60
spices are grown in India out
of the 109 spices listed by ISO.
India produced about three
million tonnes of spices during
2002-2003 from an area of one
million hectares. The export
trade of spices during 2002-
2003 is estimated at 2,50,950
tonness valued Rs. 179 crores
(US $ 370.10 million). India’s
share of spices in world trade
is estimated as 45-50 percent
by volume and 25 percent by
value.
In every crop the key
factor which decides
production has been the variety.
As on today more than 225
varieties of various spice crops
including chillies have been
released by SAUs and Central
Research Institutes. The new
varieties identified are released
through the Central
Subcommittee of Crop
Standard notification and
Variety Release, Government
of India or the State variety
release committees.
November
2004
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In every crop
the key factor
which decides
production
has been the
variety.
The XVII Workshop of
AICRPS held at IISR, Calicut
during 3-5 February 2004
identified 17 promising spices
varieties in black pepper,
turmeric, coriander, cumin,
fennel, fenugreek, ajowan,
nigella and dill for release.
These varieties are developed
by AICRPS research centres
under various SAUs, Indian
Institute of Spices Research,
Calicut and National Research
Centre on Seed Spices, Ajmer.
The new varieties of black
pepper identified for release
are IISR-Thevam, IISR-
Girimunda, IISR-Malabar
Excel and P-24. These three
varieties are developed by
IISR scientists, B. Sasikumar,
Johnson K. George, K.V. Saji
SPICE
INDIA
in association with P. Haridas,
Deputy General Manager
(R&D) Tata Tea Ltd., Munnar,
Idukki. Black pepper P-24 was
developed by Y. R Sarma, M.
Anandaraj and team. IISR-
Kedaram and IISR-Alleppey
Supreme are the new turmeric
varieties developed by IISR
Scientists, B. Sasikumar, K.V.
Saji and their team. These
varieties would be released by
the State Variety Release
Committee of the Government
of Kerala. In seed spices, cumin
RZ-223, fenugreek RMt-305,
coriander Hisar Surabhi, fennel
Gujarat Fennel-11, Hisar
Swarup and RF-143 are
identified for release from the
research centres of SAUs. The
varieties of cumin RZ 223,
fennel RF 143 and fenugreek
RMt 305 were developed by
Dhirendra Singh and team,
Rajasthan Agricultural
University, Jobner. Hisar
Surabhi a new type coriander
variety was developed by S.
K. Tehlan and others,
Chaudharay Charan Singh
Haryana Agril. University,
Hisar. Gujarat fennel-11, Hisar
Swarup and RF-143 are the
new varieties of fennel that
have been identified for release.
12

Gujarat fennel-11 was
developed by I.D Patel and
team, Gujarat Agricultural
University, Jagudan, while
Hisar Swarup was developed
by K. K Thakral and team,
Chaudharay Charan Singh
Haryana Agrilcultural
University, Hisar. The new
varieties of seed spices
developed by NRCSS, Ajmer,
Rajasthan are Ajmer Nigella -
1, Ajmer Ajowan - 1, Ajmer
Ajowan - 2 and Ajmer Dill – 1
(European dill), Ajmer Dill – 2
(Indian dill). These varieties
are developed by B.B
Vashishtha and S.K. Malhothra
of NRCSS, Ajmer, Rajasthan.
These new varieties of seed
spices approved in the
workshop would be released by
the Central Variety Release
Committee, Government of
India. The descriptions of these
varieties are summarized
below.
BLACK PEPPER
IISR-Thevam
Black pepper variety
IISR-Thevam, is a selection
from local germplasm by IISR,
Calicut. It is a clonal selection
from Thevanmundi. It is a high
yielding, medium duration type
and field tolerant to
Phytophthora foot rot diseases.
This variety closely resembles
Thevanmundi and Nelamundi
in its characters. The vines
grow vigorously with an
average yield of five kg fresh
berries/vine with 32.5 percent
November
2004
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dry recovery. Berries contain
8.15 percent oleoresin, 1.6
percent piperine and 3.1
percent essential oil. The
variety is recommended for the
state of Kerala and other high
altitude areas of South India
(up to 3000 feet MSL)
including coffee and tea
plantations.
IISR-Malabar Excel
This is the third hybrid
variety of black pepper after
Panniyur - 1 and Panniyur – 3
and it is the first hybrid variety
developed at IISR, Calicut. It
is a hybrid of Cholamundi x
Panniyur - 1. The variety, a
medium maturity group, gives
a yield of three kg fresh
berries/vine with 32.3 percent
dry recovery. The berry
contains high oleoresin (13.5
percent), piperine (2.95
percent) and essential oil (3.2
percent). The variety is
recommended for all over
Kerala and other high altitude
areas of South India including
coffee and tea plantations.
IISR-Girimunda
IISR–Girimunda,
another hybrid black pepper of
Narayakodi and Neelamundi
was developed by IISR,
Calicut. This variety gives an
average yield of six kg fresh
berry/vine with 32 percent dry
recovery, 9.65 percent
oleoresin, 2.2 percent piperine
and 3.4 percent essential oil.
SPICE
INDIA
This variety, a medium maturity
group, is recommended for all
over Kerala and other high
altitude areas in coffee and tea
plantations.
IISR-P-24
The black pepper variety
P-24, tolerant to Phytophthora
foot rot disease was developed
by IISR, Calicut. This variety
is a selection from an open
pollinated seedling progeny of
local cultivar of
Perambramunda. This variety
closely resembles Arakula-
mmunda and Perambramunda.
The variety gives an average
yield of 5.2 kg fresh berries/
vine with a projected yield of
5755 kg/hectare and of
medium maturity group. It has
good quality parameters like
bold berries, high dry recovery
of 43.0 percent and with 1000
berry weight 150 g. The berries
contain 3.3 percent piperine,
10.2 percent oleoresin and 93.7
percent essential oil. The
variety is adopted to Karnataka
and Kerala, both in plains and
high ranges.
TURMERIC
IISR-Alleppey Supreme
IISR-Alleppey supreme a
clonal selection from the
Alleppey finger turmeric was
developed by IISR, Calicut.
This variety can yield 5.85 t/
(dry rhizome)/ha). The crop
matures in 220 days and
contain 5.55 percent curcumin
13

and 16.0 percent oleoresin.
The dry recovery is 19.0
percent. The selection is
adopted for cultivation in
rainfed conditions of Kerala
and irrigated conditions in
Maharashtra, Karnataka and
North Bengal. It shows
tolerance to leaf blotch disease.
IISR-Kedaram
IISR-Kedaram, a high
yielding, high quality turmeric
selection was developed by
IISR, Calicut. It is a clonal
selection from germplasm.
This variety matures in 215
days and gives a dry rhizome
yield of 5.28 t/ha, with 5.7
percent curcumin, 14.0 percent
oleoresin and tolerant to leaf
blotch disease. It is
recommended for rainfed
conditions of Kerala and
irrigated conditions of
Maharashtra, Karnataka and
North Bengal.
FENNEL
Gujarat fennel – 11
A fennel variety, Gujarat
fennel - 11 (JF-192) was
developed through selection
based on individual plant
progeny performance from the
local germplasm collection at
the Main Spices Research
Station, Jagudan, Gujarat
Agricultural University. The
important features of their
variety are the seeds are of
medium bold and contain 1.80
percent volatile oil. The plants
November
2004
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produce more number of
umbellates per umbel with
more number of seeds, compact
umbellate and more number of
umbels per plants and number
of branches per plant. The
variety gives a yield of 2489 kg/
hectare in rabi season under
irrigation. It is a medium
maturity (148 days) type
adopted for rabi season under
irrigated conditions in the entire
fennel growing areas of Gujarat
state.
Hisar Swarup
Hisar Swarup (HF-33), a
high yielding variety of fennel
was developed by Department
of Vegetable Crops, CCSHAU,
Hisar, Haryana. The variety is
a selection from indigenous
germplasm collected from
farmers fields in Haryana. This
variety has an yield potential of
1600-1800 kg/ha. The plant
grows upright reaching a height
of 132 cm, spreading with
seven - eight primary branches
and numerous secondary
branches. Leaves are large and
spreading and gives bushy
appearance at early stage of
plant growth. Inflorescence,
spreading with 47 umbels per
plant and 26 umbelletes per
umbel with 315 seeds per
umbel. The variety a late
maturity group (175 - 185
days), responds well to
optimum dose of fertilizers (50
kg N and 25 kg P2O5/ha). The
optimum time of direct seeding
is middle of October and seed
SPICE
INDIA
rate is 7.5 to 10.0 kg/hectare .
The variety is resistant to
lodging and has no shattering
of grains. The grains are long
bold with volatile oil content
1.6 percent. The variety is
suitable for cultivation in the
state of Haryana under irrigated
conditions.
RF – 143
The fennel variety RF-
143 was developed through
recurrent selection based on
individual plant progeny. It was
developed by S.K.N. College of
Agriculture, Jobner, Rajasthan
Agricultural University. It is
recommended for cultivation in
fennel growing areas of
Rajasthan state viz. Sirobi,
Tonk, Ajmer and Jodpur. This
variety is most suitable for
cultivation in loamy and black
cotton soils. Dry, frost free and
moderately cool weather during
January-March favours for
good yield and high quality
seed. The variety is medium
duration type, plants are
medium tall (106.33 cm), seeds
long, attractive and bold with
high volatile oil content (1.87
percent) with an average yield
is 1200 kg/ha.
CORIANDER
Hisar Surabhi
The coriander variety,
Hisar Surabhi (DH-246),
identified by the CCSHAU,
Hisar, Haryana is a selection
from the local germplasm
14

through mass selection. The
most remarkable features of
this variety are high yield
potential, high oil content and
tolerant to frost, less susceptible
to aphids and suitable for
cultivation in all coriander
growing areas of Haryana and
other states. Hisar Surabhi is
bushy, erect, 75 cm tall with
seven-eight primary branches
and with green, spreading,
broader leaves at early stages
of crop growth. Inflorescence
spreading, 74 umbels per plant,
5.4 umbellets per umbel and 32
seeds per umbel. The variety
is of medium duration (130-140
days), yields 1800 to 2000 kg/
ha. Seeds are of medium size,
oblong with high volatile oil
content (0.425 percent).
CUMIN
RZ-223
The cumin variety, RZ-
223 was developed though
mutation breeding. This variety
has wider adaptability, resistant
to wilt and superior in yield and
seed quality over the released
variety RZ-19. The plant is
bushy (35.3 cm), semi erect,
medium duration (120-130
days) and yields 600 kg/ha
under normal conditions.
Seeds are long, bold and
attractive. This variety matures
earlier to RZ – 19 and has high
volatile oil content (3.0 to 3.5
percent).
November
2004
SPICE
INDIA
º{ÉÉ<ºÉäºÉ
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FENUGREEK RMt – 305 moderately tolerant to drought.
These varieties are
Fenugreek RMt – 305
recommended for both early
was identified by SKN College
and rabi sowing under limited
of Agriculture, Jobner,
available water and irrigated
Rajasthan Agricultural
conditions. Ajmer Ajowan – 1
University. This variety was
is a late maturing type (165
developed through mutation
days) with an yield potential of
breeding in RMt – 1. This is
1420 kg/ha while Ajmer
the first determinate type of
Ajowan – 2 is an early maturing
fenugreek variety and yields
type (147 days) with an yield
1300 kg/ha. The plant is
potential of 1280 kg/ha. The
determinant in habit, dwarf,
plants reach a height of 112 cm
multipoded, early maturing,
in Ajmer Ajowan – 1 and 80 cm
resistant to powdery mildew
in Ajmer Ajowan – 2.
and root knot nematodes. The
seeds are bold, attractive and DILL
yellow. It has wider
Ajmer Dill – 1 and Ajmer
adaptability and suits for all
Dill – 2
fenugreek growing areas of the
state from sandy loam to heavy Ajmer Dill – 1 (AD-1) is
soil. a European dill variety and
Ajmer Dill – 2 (AD-2) is an
AJOWAN
Indian dill type developed at
NRCSS, Ajmer, Rajasthan.
Ajmer Ajowan – 1 and
Ajmer Dill – 1 was developed
Ajmer Ajowan – 2
through single plant selection
Two varieties of ajowan,
from Mammoth (NRCSS-AD-
Ajmer Ajowan – 1 and Ajmer
43). The crop was continuously
Ajowan – 2 were developed
grown to acclimatize to semi
through selection at National
arid conditions. Ajmer Dill – 2
Research Centre on Seed
was developed through
Spices (NRCSS), Ajmer,
selection based on individual
Rajasthan. The seeds of Ajmer
plant progeny performance
Ajowan – 1 are medium size,
from Nagur local (NRCSS-
fragrant, contain 3.4 percent
AD-6). These varieties can be
volatile oil while the seeds of
successfully grown in the entire
Ajmer Ajowan – 2 also are of
dill growing areas of the state
medium size, fragrant with
of Rajasthan. AD-1 is suitable
volatile oil content 3.0 percent.
for early and rabi sowing under
Both the varieties are
15
 SPICE
INDIA
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irrigated conditions only
whereas AD-2 is suitable for
rabi sowing under irrigated and
limited available water
condition. The AD-1 is tall
(122-140 cm) and leaves are
dark green and can be easily
differentiated from Indian dill.
It is a medium duration type
(142 days) and takes 56 days
from flowering to maturity.
Seeds are brown, medium size
with 3.5 percent volatile oil
content. The variety gives a
yield of 1470 kg/ha which is 22
percent higher than the local
varieties under irrigated
conditions. It also showed field
resistance to blight.
The Indian dill variety
AD – 2 is a medium duration
type (132 days). The plant
reaches upto a height 90 cm,
leaves are light green. Seeds
are compact, brown, bold with
3.2 percent volatile oil content.
The variety showed field
resistance to powdery mildew
and moderate tolerance to
drought and gives an yield of
1460 kg/ha under irrigated
conditions and 809 kg/ha under
limited water availability.
NIGELLA
Ajmer Nigella – 1
The nigella variety, Ajmer
Nigella – 1 was developed
through selection from
Rampura local, (NRCSS-AN-
1) at NRCSS, Ajmer,
Rajasthan. This variety can be
successfully grown as rabi crop
under irrigated conditions in the
entire nigella growing areas of
the state. It is a medium
duration type (135 days). Plant
grows to a height of 32 cm with
six primary branches, 65-70
seeds/capsule, yielding 720 kg/
ha under irrigated conditions,
which is 28.5 percent higher
than the local varieties. The
seeds are dark black, bold and
with 0.7 percent volatile oil
content. l

We are Import Agents based in

Syndney for Black Pepper,
Cardamom, Cloves, Chillies
M/s. Australian Holdings and other spices products.
&
General Ent Pty. Ltd.
(Trading as "The SDBC, Australia")
PO Box 484, Westmead,
d e s
Sydney, NSw 2145,
r a rie d
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T ui te
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Tel : 61-2-98069733
Fax: 61-2-98069634
E oli
S

November
2004 16
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INDIA
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The Flavours of
ZURICH
Hugh & Colleen Gantzer

In the heart of old Zurich, A hot banana with Madras largest city in the
proud icon of secretive Swiss curry sauce, cashew nuts, Confederation, tended to be a
banking, there is an unusual long grain rice, peach slices place starchy with gravitas:
example of the global reach of and a papadam. solemn demeanour,
Indian spices. The old, and very seriousness, a quality
traditional, Restaurant Hiltl, Clearly this is as colloquially referred to as being
established in 1898, is Swiss imaginative a variation of Up-tight. The city and its people
owned, and run, in a heritage fusion food as is Britain’s new seem to take themselves rather
setting. And it is very popular. national dish Chicken Tikka seriously as if the business of
We had to book our tables for Masala! making and saving money
lunch, well in advance. We didn’t expect to find occupied most of their
Interestingly, for generations, it such a long-standing departure attention, and they had little
has served only vegetarian from traditional Swiss cuisine time for such frivolities as light-
food. And the menu listed many in Zurich, of all places. We heartedness and fun.
delicacies from our land. It have always felt that this, the Occasionally, however, and
said:
Our Indian buffet with a
choice of 30 authentic dishes is
available every evening from 5
pm; on Sundays from 11 a.m.
And then it went on to
offer.
India Juice : Grapefruit,
orange and mango with Indian
garam masala.
Among its other a la carte
choices were;
Indian Thali, Vegetable
Jalfrezi, Vadai Platter, Riz
(Rice) Colonial with its
variation Hot Colonial with
Madras curry sauce and
Banana Madras described as Zurich : Like a woodcut from an old fairy tale
November
2004 17

One of Zurich's many affordable outdoor cafes
with great earnestness, they do
decide to enjoy themselves.
During their festival
Sechselauten in April, for
instance, there is a “parade of
the guilds and the burning of
the Booggs (an effigy stuffed
with fireworks” More to our
taste, however, would be the
techno Street Parade “which
attracts a million partygoers,
and the Weihnachtszauber in
December, with Europe’s
largest covered Christmas
market.”
Sadly, we were not there
for any of these festivities so we
must take their word for it. We
must, however, admit that, in
spite of the rather coldly-
calculating reputation of
Zurich, we found the elegant
old Glockenhof Hotel, in
which we stayed, to be warm
and welcoming. It was also
very centrally located so that
November
2004
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we could stroll through the
beautiful Old Town which still
looked like a woodcut from
Grimms Fairy Tales. But if old
architecture does not interest
you, do window shop, as we
did, down the 1.4 km long
Zuricher Bahnhofstrasse. It
stretches from Zurich’s Central
Train Station down to Lake
Zurich. We say we window-
shopped because, though the
merchandise in the shops was
very elegant and superbly
displayed, their prices kept
reminding us that not only has
Zurich been assessed as having
the highest quality of life
worldwide, it should also be
ranked among the most
expensive!
Having said that,
however, we had pleasantly
affordable meals in some of
their outdoor cafes, sitting
under colourful beach
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umbrellas and watching the
natives hurrying by on their
mysterious, and very urgent,
errands. Only visitors seem to
amble; the locals stride past
purposefully and if you should,
without warning, stop on the
pavement, the chances are that
you will cause a pedestrian
jam! Part of the very business-
like attitude of the people of
Zurich is the fact that tips do
not seem to be expected. We
saw only tourists leave the
normal 10 percent gratuity.
Perhaps the pragmatic people
of Zurich neither give, not
expect to receive, any
additional amount for doing
what they are paid to do!
A good way to get around
the city, fairly effortlessly, is to
buy a ZurichCARD: 15 Swiss
Francs for 24 hours and 30 for
72 hours. It will give you
unlimited travel on the
transport network, entry to 43
museums and a 50 percent
reduction for a guided walk
through the Old Town with
Zurich Tourism. It’s almost as
good an investment as opening
a numbered account!
We took a river-boat
cruise down the Limmat River
and onto Lake Zurich. We
were surprised, and a little
relieved, to find that even here
its young people had a quota of
rebels. Someone had spray-
painted a protest on the
concrete embankments of the
river. It said, in Swiss-German:
18
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Zurich is too rich and too disciplined!

Ah well. That’s one slogan we’re not likely
to find in our land!
The river cruise is an effortless way
to take in the spread of this old town. It
grew around the Roman outpost of
Turicum, in 15 BC. It was a customs office
and thus, from its birth, money has been a
major concern of Zurich! The lake cruise,
however, presents the gentler face of this
bankers’ city. People picnicked on its green
banks, some swam in the blue water, others
marinated themselves in quest of a greatly-
valued tan. The cruise is also a good way
to get a view of Zurich’s famed Chinese
Garden. This, according to Zurich
Tourism, is one of the largest Chinese
Gardens outside China and was a gift to
the city from Kunming, with whom it has
a twinning relationship. The Chinese
Garden, with its gentle, natural,
landscaping provides a pleasant relief from
the very businesslike atmosphere of the
town. After all, Zurich does take pride in
calling itself ‘Downtown Switzerland’
But, sometimes, the most assiduous
financial gnomes can be very lyrical.
According to the guide book given to us,
thoughtfully, by our hotel:
The Bahnhofstrasse has its special
charm at every season of the year: in spring
when the lime-trees’ fragrance is in the air,
in summer when the scene is enlivened by
the many visitors from all over the world,
in autumn when the window dressings are
particularly tempting, and in winter when
the street sparkles in the glitter of the
Christmas illuminations.
In other words, even in Zurich, as a
local banker advised us, one can “Enjoy”! l

November
2004 19

Farm Yard Manure -
for Bio-nutrition
and Bio-energy
ICRI,Spices Board, Myladumpara, 685 553
Farm yard manure, yard
manure or the dung are the
different terms used for the
decomposed mixture of the
excreta of domestic animals
along with the straw or the
other litter that is used in the
yard. The composition of the
farmyard manure vary with the
animal, the sort of food it takes.
Since farmyard manure is the
part of the normal out put of the
diary farm, the major portion
will be the solid excreta or dung
of the cattle. It consists mainly
of the undigested food of the
animals. It also contains living
and dead bacteria. Cattle dung
has been used in India since
long in the spiritual rites and
also in the form of domestic
fuel and as compost manure.
Cow, sheep, horse, pig, buffalo
and bull are the major source
of dung and their manurial
values varies with each source.
Normally a cow or a buffalo
excretes much more than a
horse and a sheep. The fresh
animal excreta are not suitable
November
2004
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G.P.Bindumol & J. Thomas
for direct use as manure, as
most of its manurial ingredients
are present in an unavailable
form. In general the nutritive
value of one tonne of cattle
dung is around 2.95kg N,
1.59kg P2 O 5, and 2.95kg of
K2O.
Anaerobic and aerobic
composting are the extensively
adopted methods for the better
utilization of the farm wastes.
Besides composting biogas
technology is the anaerobic
digestion of organic materials.
The manurial value of the
biogas slurry is superior to
traditional farmyard manure or
compost. The liquid effluent
from the anaerobic digester is
a relatively stable product in
comparison with the influent.
Bio gas slurry can also be
incorporated with irrigation
water, particularly with paddy
nurseries.
Field experiments were
conducted by Kuppuswamy et
al (1991) to study the effect of
SPICE
INDIA
biogas slurry and gypsum
enriched biogas slurry on rice
-black gram. Biogas slurry at 10
t /ha enriched with gypsum @
250kg/ha gave an additional
grain yield of 1.8t/ha compared
to control.
Apart from these
conventional recycling
methods, lot of other organic
preparations using dung, urine,
milk etc., are being practiced by
growers all over the country.
Though these traditional
technologies have not been
testified through modern
methods of scientific scrutiny,
these knowledge have already
benefited many practicing
farmers. So why not try it
yourself?
1. FYM as a growth promoter
1. 1. Panchagavya
The major of
ingredients Panchagavya
consists of five products from
cow viz., dung, urine, milk,
curd and ghee. Dilute solution
20

of Panchagavya can act as a
growth promoter and immunity
booster.
Ingredients for preparing
Panchagavya
Fresh cow dung : 5 kg
Cow urin : 3 litres
Cow’s milk : 2 litres
Cow’s curd : 2 litres
Cow’s ghee : 1 litres
Sugar cane juice : 3 litres
Tender coconut
water : 3 litres
Banana : 12 nos
Yeast/Toddy : 2 litres
Fresh cow dung and ghee
are mixed thoroughly in a mud
pot or in plastic bucket and
keep for four days. The mixture
should be stirred daily. On the
5th day, add the other items and
keep this mixture in a wide
mouthed mud pot or in a plastic
can, stir well with stick and
keep in shade. Stirring is
carried out for providing
aeration to micro-organisms
and the stirring should be
continued for 15 days.
Panchagavya will be ready on
16th day and it can be stored for
six months .Its potency can be
augmented by daily stirring.
Panchagavya is commonly
used for foliar spray or in
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2004
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irrigation water at two percent
concentration.
1. 2. Fermented cow dung
slurry
Biogas slurry is one of the
organic inputs generally
employed in the cardamom
tracts. It is found that the
application of fermented cow
dung slurry promotes the
growth and development of
cardamom plants remarkably.
The ingredients commonly
used in the slurry are furnished
below.
Fresh cow dung : 5 parts
Neemcake : 1 part
Groundnut cake : 1 part
All the ingredients may
be allowed to ferment
separately for five - seven days
and then are mixed thoroughly
together in a 200 litre plastic
container and keep in shade.
Stir the contents daily for a
period of 15 days. After 15 days
of fermentation dilute it to
200litre and apply four-five
litre /plant. Fermented cow
dung slurry is very easy to
prepare and apply. During
fermentation the pH of the
solution was found to decrease.
It may be due to the formation
of organic acids in the course
of fermentation. Avoid usage
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INDIA
during wet months when soil
moisture is high.
1.3. Amutham solution
The ingredients for the above
are as follows
Cow dung : 1 kg
Cow’s urine : 1 lit
Jaggery : 250g
Water : 10 lit
Prepare cow dung slurry
in 10 litres of water and mix it
with cow urine. Add powered
jaggery and again mix
thoroughly. Keep the solution
in an airtight container for a
day. Thus about 12-13 litres of
mother solution will be ready.
10 percent solution can be used
as a foliar spray or 30-50 litres
per acre in irrigation water.
This solution is also act as
insect repellent
2. COW URINE
It is not just waste water
that stinks. Patents have already
filed in US on the repellent
properties.
2.1.Treated cow urine
This solution is used of
better decomposition of
compost and as a growth
promoter. Collect five litres of
cow urine from milking cow or
21

a pregnant cow in a plastic
drum and then add 200 ml of
molasses. Mix the above with
200 ml of Extented EM
solution and 200 ml water in an
air tight container and keep for
7-10 days. The resultant
solution is colourless and
odourless liquid with acidic
range of pH. Spray 0.1 percent
solution or apply three litres per
acre through irrigation water.
3. FYM in composting
Without FYM,
composting is never ever
complete. How about a
Japanese mode of composting?
3.1. Bokashi
Bokashi is a compost
produced by terminating the
decomposition process before
completing the composting by
spreading and drying the
material. The complete
decomposition occurs after
incorporation into the soil.
The following ingredients
are used for the preparation of
Bokashi.
Paddy husk : 90 Kg
Paddy bran : 10 Kg
Dried and powered cow dung
: 10 Kg
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Powered ground nut or
coconut cake : 10 Kg
Jaggery :1 Kg
Water : 10 lit
Dissolve jaggery in 10
litres of water and add 1 litre
Extended EM and sprinkle this
solution over the above mixture
and bring to a semi solid form.
If required excess water can be
added to bring it to above form.
Mix well and take this
preparation in a 100 litres
plastic drum or mud pot and fill
it by thoroughly pressing inside
the container. Leave gap of two
inches above the preparation
and then close air tightly and
keep it for 7-10 days. The final
product will have sweet flavour
and acidic pH. It can be stored
in dark room for a period of
three-six months for repeated
usage by closing the lids. About
100-200 gm of Bokashi can be
applied for each plant.
4. Bio-energy at Farm Level
Biogas can virtually
meet the energy need of a farm.
Just think! One cubic metre of
biogas can replace one lb LPG
or 0.52 litre diesel or 0.9 litre
gasoline or 0.62 litkerosene or
0.6 littre crude oil or 10 litre
alcohol or 1.4 kg charcoal or
4.7kwh electricity or 3.47 kg
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INDIA
firewood or 112.3kg cattle dung
cakes. One adult cattle gives
10-12kg fresh dung/day which
will give 0.5 m 3 gas
(theoretically), quite sufficient
to run one HP engine for one
hour. If not enough, the slurry
offers more than double the
value of gas. Manure thus
obtained is 45 precent more
than the dung fed to the plant.
Its nitrogen content is nearly
double of the fresh dung. The
slurry adds rich humus to the
soil and thus enhances to its
productivity. A 2m 3 biogas
plant will yield about nine litres
of slurry in a year. Do you
know? India has the largest
cattle population in the world.
References
1.Daniel Hall, A. (2002) Farm Yard
Manurea. In “ Fertilisers and
Manures “ published by Bio tech
books, New Delhi-110 035. pp150-
196.
2. Hand book of manures and
fertilizers. (1971) Indian Council of
Agricultural Research. New Delhi .
pp 68-122.
3. Natarajan, K. (2003) Pachakavya
a manual. Other India Press, Mapusa,
Goa- 403 507.
4. Narayana Reddy. Booklet on
Effective Micro-Organism, Tamiaka
Uzhavar Thozhilnutpa Kazhakam,
PB No.2, Sathyamangalam, Tamil
Nadu
22

Aerobic Composting
Kerala Forest Research Institute,
Peechi, Trichur, Kerala, 680653
Composting is a method
of accelerating natural process
of decomposition of organic
residues or wastes such as farm
and forest waste under
controlled conditions to yield a
product useful in agriculture
and forestry. The
decomposition is brought about
mainly by microorganisms like
fungi and bacteria. An efficient
method of composting ensures
minimum loss of nutrients from
the organic materials during the
process of composting. The
controlling factors are
temperature, moisture, air and
the nature of the organic
materials.
TYPES OF COMPOSTING
Anaerobic composting
This is the common
method of composting, in
which the organic raw materials
such as green leaves or waste
materials are filled in pits along
with cow dung and allowed to
November
2004
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Dr. M. Balasundaran
Biotechnology Discipline,
remain for several months
without allowing fresh air into
the organic matter. In the
absence of air, composting
progresses slowly by the action
of anaerobic microorganisms.
Anaerobic decomposition may
produce foul smelling gases.
Aerobic composting
Aerobic composting,
contrary to anaerobic
composting, involves
decomposition of organic raw
materials by microorganisms
growing in the presence of air.
Aeration is made possible
through repeated turning of
compost heap to admit fresh air
into decomposing organic
matter. When the
decomposition is complete,
compost can be removed and
used as organic manure or as
potting medium in nurseries for
production of container
seedlings. Aerobic method is
the most suitable for tropics
because of the favourable
climatic conditions.
SPICE
INDIA
Methods of aerobic
composting
There are three different
methods of aerobic composting
based on frequency of turning.
They are the Berkeley,
Bangalore and Indore methods.
Berkeley Method
Berkeley method is the
quickest method of
composting, achieved through
frequent turning and mixing of
the heap. This is done generally
in above-ground stacks where
free air circulation is prevalent.
Larger quantity of compost can
be produced with in a short
period. However, labour
requirement is high due to
frequent turning.
Bangalore method
In the Bangalore method,
the process is initially aerobic
for several days and then
become anaerobic when
23

turnings are discontinued. This
method is generally done in pits
and takes about four to five
months. The main drawback is
that the outer exposed portion
of the stack will retain
pathogens, pests and seeds of
weeds. Hence, this portion may
be excluded from use or
incorporated in to another stack
for composting. Covering the
top exposed portion with mud
is also a general practice
adopted by farmers.
Indore method
In the Indore method, the
compost is turned only for a
limited number of times,
usually upto five times over a
period of six months. This
method is less labour intensive.
Advantages of aerobic
composting
Aerobic composting is
fast and the decomposition
process and maturing will be
complete within 8 to 12 weeks
(Berkeley method). Generally,
foul smelling gasses or toxic
chemicals are not produced
during the process of aerobic
composting. Pathogen and
insect pests get destroyed due
to temperature build up inside
the compost heap. The product
can be easily stored dry in
plastic bags or other containers.
November
2004
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Organic materials for aerobic
composting
All types of materials
such as green leaves, weed,
creepers, vegetable waste, etc.
can be composted. Materials
such as saw dust and coir pith
are also used as raw materials
for composting after addition of
sufficient quantity of
nitrogenous fertilizers such as
urea. In short any plant material
can be composted; but the
quality of compost will vary
with the materials used as
ingredients. Materials such as
polythene, plastic, metals,
stones, etc, can not be
composted and hence should
not be included for composting.
Infrastructure required for
Berkeley method of
composting
Composting can be done
in temporary or
semipermanent, open comp-
SPICE
INDIA
osting shed or pits. The size of
the shed depends on the
quantity of compost be
produced . If several tonnes of
compost is to be produced,
separate sheds for collection
and chopping of raw materials,
composting, sieving and
storage are required. Chopping
of raw materials can be done in
a shed with open sides. The
sides of composting shed
should only be partially closed
so as to allow free flow of air
but protected against wind. It
should have sufficient space
required for turning. Sieved dry
compost should be stored in
moisture –free sheds.
Implements required
The type of implements
depends upon the quantity of
compost to be produced. For
small scale production of
compost, items like sickle,
spade, choppers, basket, long
thermometer, sieve, plastic
24

bags, etc. are sufficient. If the
quantity of compost
requirement is large, in addition
to the above, machinery for
chopping the raw materials,
tractors for transporting and
mechanized sieve for sieving
the compost are also required.
Process involved in aerobic
composting
For aerobic composting
(Berkeley method), four
ingredients namely organic raw
materials, microorganisms,
sufficient moisture (40 to 60
percent moisture enables rapid
decomposition) and good
aeration are essential. If the raw
material is deficient in nitrogen
or phosphorus, addition of
inorganic fertilizers such as
November
2004
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urea or super phosphate or
organic amendments rich in
nitrogen such as animal urine
or chicken feed waste is
necessary, especially when the
material used for composting
is dry. The organic matter
should be chopped to 20 to 50
mm size using hand knife or
chopping machine and heaped
to an average height of 1.5
metre in specially constructed
compost shed. The length and
breadth of the heap can be 2m
x 2m or any other size
depending upon the space
available. However, it may be
better to limit the height to 1.5
metre and width to three metre
in order to facilitate aeration
inside the compost heap. If
green leaves are used, it is
better to keep the chopped raw
material under shade for a day
or two for slight wilting.
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Several species of
thermophilic microorganisms
belonging to bacteria,
actinomycete and fungi are
involved in decomposition.
Most of the raw materials such
as weeds have a native
population of these
microorganisms over their
surface and inside tissues.
Hence there is no need of
adding microorganisms
externally to the raw materials.
However, when relatively
sterile organic materials are
used or when materials such as
coir pith and saw dust are to
be composted, addition of
suitable microorganisms are
required. Sufficient water
should be added to the raw
material and thoroughly
mixed. The raw material
should be heaped in stacks of
30 cm thickness, sprinkling
25

water and fertilizer solution
over each stack.
Addition of urea at the rate of
one kg per ton of weed material
at the beginning of the
composting process will
quicken the composting
process initially. Urea can be
sprinkled on the surface of each
stack of 30 cm height. Like
wise rock phosphate also can
be added if the weed raw
materials are deficient in
phosphorus. If the compost
should be strictly organic, urea
should not be added. Nitrogen
containing materials such as
cattle urine, chicken feed
waste, etc. can be used.
After about two to four days,
the temperature inside the
compost heap will rise as a
result of the decomposition of
the raw materials and release of
energy by microorganisms. The
temperature inside the heap
should be monitored daily. If
the temperature rises above 60-
November
2004
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65 C, the microorganisms will
perish. Hence, the heap should
be turned, mixed and aerated on
alternate days or as and when
the temperature reaches 60 C.
Sufficient water should be
sprinkled to keep the moisture
content of the decomposing
material at about 60 per cent.
About 20 such turnings may be
required with in four to six
weeks usually for complete
decomposition of the organic
materials. Temperature inside
the heap may come down after
a few turnings. Subsequently, it
is necessary to allow, the
composted material to mature
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INDIA
or cure for a few weeks. When
the temperature inside the heap
is not rising above 35-40 C, it
can be kept for curing. During
this period, the remaining
organic fragments break down
into a humus, rich in lignin and
microbial biomass. Compost
can be applied directly to plants
as manure. However, if the
compost is used as potting
medium in nurseries, it should
be sieved for removing
undecomposed large size waste
materials and debris. Such
materials can also be added in
fresh lot for composting.
Care required during aerobic
composting
The efficiency and
success of composting depend
on three factors namely, C/N
ratio of the organic raw
materials such as weeds
(optimum ratio is 25-30),
optimum moisture content and
timely turning. If the raw
material is deficient in nitrogen,
sprinkle urea while stacking at
the rate of one or two kg per
26
 SPICE
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tonne of fresh weed. If the C/N
ratio of the raw material is 30
or less, application of urea is not
necessary. For materials such as
saw dust and coir pith, having
C/N ratio of about 400, higher
quantity of urea should be
applied. Turning the stack is
very important as it reduces the
temperature and aerates the
decomposing organic material.
Optimal moisture content is a
key factor as sub optimal
moisture will retard the
composting process. Also
excess moisture will lead to
anaerobic condition which will
also slow the process of aerobic
composting. Optimum moisture
content can be checked easily
without any instrument. A
sample of decomposing
compost, when squeezed with
hand should adequately wet the
hand with slight dripping.
Uses of aerobically produced
compost
Aerobically produced
compost can be used as a
component of potting medium.
Aerobically produced compost
will be free of pathogens and
weed seeds. Compost is an ideal
potting medium which can
physically support
seedlings, and store and supply
water, air and nutrient to the root
system. It is light in weight,
porous, and has high water
holding capacity. The C/N
ration is around 10 and has got
good exchange capacity. It is
free of insects, pathogens and
weeds. Compost can
considerably reduce
compaction. It can retain
moisture while maintaining
porosity for air movement and
root growth.
Composting work should be
initiated at least six months in
advance of nursery raising so
that the compost is matured
enough to be used as potting
medium without any
the
amendments. However, if any
modification is required in the
physical, chemical or
biological properties of the
compost, soil sand or
chemicals can be added in
appropriate rations l

Goldin Hi-Tech

November
2004 27
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Shri.E.V.K.S.Elangovan, Union Minister of State for
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Commerce & Industry, is being received by
The Spices Board had Shri.K.A.Devanand at the Board’s stand at UPASI exhibition.
participated in the 111th UPASI
annual conference and
exhibition held at Coonoor,
Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu during 6th
and 7th September, 2004. The
Board highlighted the theme of
organic spices including
propagation of bio-dynamic
practices in spice cultivation.
S h r i . E . V. K . S . E l a n g o v a n ,
Union Minister of State for
Commerce & Industry,
Shri.K.A.Devanand (second from the left) and
Shri Ramanna (third from left) with visitors at
the Board’s stall

Shri.Abhijit Sengupta, Additional

Secretary, Ministry of Commerce,
Shri.B.B.Medaiah, President, UPASI are
the dignitaries who visited the Board’s stall.
Shri.K.A.Devanand, Section Officer and
Shri. Ramanna, Publicity Assistant, Spices
Shri.C.J.Jose IAS, Chairman Spices Board making the
Board organized the participation of the
presentation at the session on Commodity outlook at UPASI.
Board in the exhibition.

November
2004 28
 SPICE
INDIA
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KRISHIMELA 2004
DHARWAD
Spices Board participated in the
Krishimela 2004 organised by the University
of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad from 1st
to 4th October 2004. Shri.D.B.Jayachandra
former Agriculture Minister, Government of
Karnataka inaugurated the Mela. Dr.William
Dar, Director General of ICRISAT Shri.D.B.Jayachandra former Agriculture Minister,
Hyderabad, Dr.S.A.Patil, Vice-chancellor, Government of Karnataka inaugurating the Board’s
Univesity of Agricultural Science, Dharwad stall at the Krishimela.
were the dignitaries who visited the Boards
stall. Shri.M.Y.Honnur, Field Officer, and
Shri.Ramanna, Publicity Assistant organized
the Board’s participation at the Mela.

CHENNAI
INTERNATIONAL
TRADE FAIR 2004
The Spices Board
participated in theChennai
Dr.S.A.Patil, Vice-chancellor, University of
International Trade Fair 2004 Agricultural Science, Dharwad (third from left)
organized jointly by the Tamil visiting the Board’s stall.
Nadu Trade Promotion
Organization,Chennai and
Trade & Convention Centre,
Chennai from 9-17 October
2004..
The activities of the
Board such as export
promotion and spices
development were explained
to the visitors
Shri.K.C.Ponnappan,
and Shri.Elavazhagan of
Spices Board organized the Shri.K.C.Ponnappan explaining the activities of the Board to a
Board’s participation at the visitor at the Board’s stall
fair l

November
2004 29
 SPICE
INDIA
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Spices Board’s
participation in the Natural Enquiries for Indian Organic Spices
Products Expo East/Biofach at Biofach America
America during October has
generated lots of enquiries for
organic spices and spice
products from India. The
presence of the Board was
appreciated by business visitors
drawn from different sections
of industry like organic foods,
food supplements, cosmetics,
toiletries from USA and other
parts of the world. The Board’s
stall made a neat presentation
of a full range of organic spices
and spice products from India.
Over 11 companies/groups
have provided their products Visitors with the officials of the Board, Mr.K P Somasekharan,
for display. Four organic Director(Finance) (2nd from right) and Mr.K.Nanjundeswaran,
Market Trade Analyst (3rd from right)
companies have deputed their
executives to participate
through the Board’s stall.

Many of the enquires are for

procuring organic spice
products for retail sales. Some
of the major houses like
M/s.Morten and Bassett Spices
has suggested establishment of
warehouses by Indian organic
exporters in USA. The
Board was represented by
Director (Finance) Mr.K.P
Somasekharan and Mr.
K. Nanjundeswaran, Market Organic product buyers seen in discussion with an Indian exporter at the
Trade Analyst l Board’s stall in Biofach America
November
2004 30
 SPICE
INDIA
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Good turn out of visitors at SIAL Fair

Good turn out of visitors

was recorded at the Spices
Board stall in the SIAL
exhibition in Paris held during
October 17 to 21, 2004.
Procurement of different sorts
of spices was the main agenda
for many of the visitors. A team
of Indian spice exporters
present in the stand attended the
visitors along with the Spices
Board officials Mr.P K Philip,
Deputy Director and Business visitors with the Spices Board officials Mr.M.Ayyappan, Asst.
Mr.M.Ayyappan, Assistant Director(extreme left) and Mr.P K Philip, Dy.Director (third from right).
Director. Over 20 Indian
exporters arranged display of
their products in the stand
located in the India pavilion set
up by the India Trade
Promotion Organisation.

Sizeable trade enquiries

were recorded and interestingly
Indian vanilla was also
demanded. Many of the
visitors appreciated the steps
taken by the Board in ensuring
adulterant- free export of spices
Mr.M Ayyappan, Asst. Director (right) seen in discussion with
especially chillies l
spice buyers.

TISSUE CULTURE VANILLA PLANTS READY

Fourty thousand numbers. of secondary hardened tissue cultured vanilla plants
are available for distribution from the Spices Board. The cost is Rs. 4.50 per plant.
Those who are interested may contact the nearest Spices Board office and book the
plants by paying the cost.

November
2004 31

All nations employ a wide
range of standards and
regulations to govern the sale
of agricultural products in
national markets, the majority
of which are considered
justified commercial
limitations. Governments may
also impose technical barriers
to isolate domestic producers
IMPACT OF SPS MEASURES ON AGRO
PRODUCTS
Faculty Member, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi-110016.
from international competition.
Against this backdrop,
standards and regulations in
general, and sanitary and
phytosanitary measures in
particular, involve a mix of
protection and protectionist
objectives which is very
complex to disentangle. This
generates a very demanding
challenge for an economist
used to trade-off costs and
benefits in order to evaluate
different policy options.
Among the agreements
of the World Trade
Organisation (WTO), the
Application of the Agreement
on Sanitary and Phytosanitary
(SPS) Measures is to protect
the legitimate rights of
importing countries with
respect to national health and
safety without providing a
Views expressed in this article are personal
November
2004
º{ÉÉ<ºÉäºÉ
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loophole for countries to avoid
other trade-liberalising
disciplines of the Uruguay
Round agreements. The SPS
Agreement outlines disciplines
and limits on measures to be
taken to protect human, animal,
and life and health from foreign
pests, diseases, and
contaminants. These SPS
Madan Lal
measures are the standard
measures for agricultural and
non-agricultural products
meaning by that SPS
agreement applies to all
sanitary (relating to animals &
human) and phytosanitary
(relating to plants). Measures
for environmental protection,
per se, or to protect the welfare
of animals are not covered by
this SPS Agreement.
In contrast to the
Agreement on Agriculture,
which sets numerical limits and
commitments in the areas of
market access, domestic
support, and export subsidies,
provisions of the SPS
Agreement provide guidelines
for government’s behaviour in
implementing technical
measures.
SPICE
INDIA
The WTO was set up as
a result of the successful
conclusion of the Uruguay
Round of multilateral trade
negotiations held under the
auspicious of the General
Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade (GATT) in 1995. It has
presently 147 members and is
very influential in multilateral
trade. Here a question arises
why had an agreement on SPS
measures not been discussed
before under the GATT? In
fact, since 1948, national food
safety, animal and plant health
measures which affect trade
were subject to GATT rules.
Article I of the GATT, the most-
favoured nation clause,
required non-discriminatory
treatment of imported products
from different foreign
suppliers, and Article III
required that such products be
treated no less favourably than
domestically produced goods
with respect to any laws or
requirements affecting their
sale. This provision allowed
countries to take measures
“necessary to protect human,
animal or plant life or health”,
as long as these did not
unjustifiably discriminate
32

between countries where the
same conditions prevailed and
were not used disguise to
restrict trade. In this SPS
agreement, countries maintain
the sovereign right to provide
the level of health protection
they deem appropriate, but
agree that this right will not be
misused for protectionist
purposes nor result in
unnecessary trade barriers. A
rule of equivalency rather than
equality applies to the use of
SPS measures.
The challenge to the
Uruguay Round negotiators
were to create a set of rules that
would strike the proper balance
between health and
environmental protection while
disallowing regulatory
protectionism. Thus this SPS
Agreement recognizes the right
of each WTO member to adopt
an “appropriate level of
protection” of trade-restricting
measures to protect human,
animal, and plant life and
health, but insists that such
measures be based on a
scientific assessment of the
risks, be applied only to the
extent necessary to achieve
public health, and not
discriminate between domestic
and foreign products or threats.
It sets out clearer and more
detailed rights and obligations
for food safety, and animal and
plant health measures which
affect trade. Countries will be
permitted to impose only those
requirements which are needed
November
2004
º{ÉÉ<ºÉäºÉ
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to protect health and which are
based on scientific principles.
They have to be consistent in
their decisions on what is safe
food, and in responses to
animal and plant health
concerns. It is with the hope
that these measures would
promote transparency in
international food and
commodities trade.
The SPS agreement
does, however, encourage
governments to “harmonize” or
base their national measures on
the international standards,
guidelines and
recommendations developed
by WTO member governments
in other international
organizations. These
organisations include, for food
safety, the joint FAO/WHO
Codex Alimentarius
Commission (CAC); for
animal health, the international
Office of Epizootics (OIE); and
for plant health, the
International Plant Protection
Convention (IPPC). The work
of these technical organisations
is subject to international
scrutiny and review. The
guidelines evolved by the IPPC
for determining whether a
living modified organism
(LMO) poses hazard to plants
have become the norms for
international trade in LMOs.
While CAC and IPPC
standards, guidelines, and
recommendations are
voluntary, they are officially
SPICE
INDIA
taken by WTO as reference
points in international trade
disputes concerning plant
health.
The SPS agreement
contains 14 articles and three
annexes covering basic rights
and obligations;
harmonization; equivalency;
risk assessments; pest- or
diseases-free areas;
transparency; control;
inspection, and approval
procedures; technical
assistance; special and
differential treatment;
consultations and dispute
settlement; administration; and
implementation. Besides these,
SPS norms can be broadly
looked at from three
p e r s p e c t i v e s — —
microbiological, physical and
chemical-to appreciate the
economic of ground reality.
This can at best be called the
shifting-post syndrome.
In post-WTO period, all
agricultural exports have to
comply with the SPS measures.
The SPS agreement, although
bilateral in operational terms,
follows from a set of
agreements that are part of the
larger WTO set signed by India.
Whereas most WTO
agreements consent to the use
of health as a valid ground for
exception, all require that
health measures be no more
trade restrictive than necessary.
However, SPS measures, in
comparison to tariff barriers,
33

use a soothing phrase “based on
scientific principles and is not
maintained without sufficient
scientific evidence”.
Many small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) are in
export business of agriculture
and allied sectors. These sectors
have been contributing a major
portion to the Indian economy
and so to exports. Agricultural
exports contributed more than
20 per cent in India’s total
exports in 1996-97. After this,
a decline has been continuously
registered and share of agro and
allied products fell down to
12.28 per cent in 2002-03. In
1996-97, exports of agro and
allied products amounted to
US$6,868 million, which fell to
US$6,428 million in 2002-03.
Among the major items
of agro exports in 2002-03
were: marine products
($1,384.52 mn), non-basmati
rice ($752.87 mn), cashew
($415.66 mn), basmati rice
($358.31 mn), wheat ($352.22
mn), sugar ($350.78 mn), tea
($335.95 mn), spices ($334.49
mn), meat and preparation
($282.16 mn), tobacco
manufactured and unmanu
factured ($208.05 mn), coffee
($201.83 mn), misc processed
items ($177.34 mn), fresh
vegetables ($128.11 mn),
processed fruits & juices
($115.86 mn), castor oil
($107.67 mn),fresh fruits
($89.50 mn), seasame & niger
seeds ($86.56 mn), poultry &
November
2004
º{ÉÉ<ºÉäºÉ
¦ÉÉ®úiÉ
dairy products ($71.03 mn),
processed vegetables ($51.09
mn), fruits/vegetable seeds
($18.81 mn).
The SMEs confront with
a number of problems,
especially in the external trade
sector because of WTO
regulations. The introduction of
international standard would
inflate production costs and
erode market and export
competitiveness of the SMEs.
The SPS measures are used to
deny entry to Indian products
on grounds of injury to human,
animal, or plant health. The
SMEs also find it hard to
comply with the high standards
set by industries in the
developed world, as they
require large investments.
Standards can potentially
impede international trade by
imposing unnecessarily costly
and time-consuming test or by
laying out unjustified different
requirements in different
markets. Agriculture and agro-
industries, especially processed
food, are most vulnerable to
these non-tariff barriers (NTBs)
because health and
environmental standards are
proliferating rapidly in
developed countries. These
NTBs are related to SPS
conditions, pesticides residues,
subsidies, health and hygiene
conditions, testing and
certification requirements for
electric vehicles are some of the
examples faced by SMEs.
SPICE
INDIA
In Japan, the NTBs
include authorization
requirement in import of goods,
large-scale retail store low
import quotas in respect of
squid, seaweed, mackerel,
sardine, herring and scallop,
impractical and strict
quarantine procedures and
Japanese standards affect food
additives. In Australia, they
encompass prohibition of
import of milk-based items,
maintain SPS standards, health
inspection in the case of items
shipped and import restrictions.
In the European Union, a
trading bloc of 25 nations,
NTBs cover lack of
harmonization and common
standards, labelling rules and
regulations. Basmati and
marine products are subject to
inspection and certification.
The oft-cited example is the
implementation of EU’s new
aflatoxin standards. This
particular standard could
reduce export of cereals, dried
fruits and nuts. Many
consignments of marine
products were rejected by the
EU carrying prawns, cuttlefish
and squids which found to
contain cadmium, salmonelia,
furazolidone, nitrofurazone,
mesophiles, and vibrie
cholerae. Chilli products
including curry powders, sauce,
and spices mix were rejected
due to the presence of colour
Sudan one and aflotoxins.
Consignments of grapes are
34

tested for residues of pesticides
like methomyl,
monocrotophos, acephate,
methomidophos and
monocrotophous. Egg and yolk
are subject to examine
nitrofuran, nitrofurasone, and
furazoldone. Honey is also to
check nitrofuran.
China, a new entrant to
WTO, has NTBs relating to
restriction on imports,
standardization regulations,
registration requirements,
commodity inspection, and
quarantine rules. Recently
China banned Brazil’s
soyabeans after it found
carboxin, a harmful chemical
that is usually sprayed on
soyabean seeds. In Central
Europe and Baltic countries,
the NTBs include stringent
health rules for spices and
microbiological count, mold
count to be free from
salmonella and e-coli bacteria.
The USA, world’s largest
importing country, is following
its food and drug standards. It
attempts to restrict ethnic foods
from India. The USA had
rejected a large consignment
containing red lentil mix,
namkeen ghatia, mathri,
bhelpuri puffed rice delicacy,
cashew mix, potato sticks,
sweet and sour gram mix etc.
The USA had also rejected a
consignment of basmati rice
exported from India, describing
it as “filthy”. Frozen raw hills
shrimp was rejected as it was
November
2004
º{ÉÉ<ºÉäºÉ
¦ÉÉ®úiÉ
“filthy” and contained bacteria,
salmonella. Other consignment
rejected by USA are shrimp,
black pepper, mukhwas masala,
candy, frozen headless shrimps,
mango chutney, silagra, fennel,
seeds, canned squash, jilebi
mix, and many products of
Britannia like elaichi cream
biscuits, coconut crunches,
Britannia mango cookies,
psylilum husks and sesame on
various SPS reasons.
Not only these items, but
also a large consignment
containing ayurvedic
medicines like dahasamani,
t r i v r i t s n e h a m ,
dasmoolarishtam,
saraswatharishtam, lohasavan,
murivenna, dhurdhurpatradi
keram, madhusshirasysanam,
abhayarishtam, asokarishtam,
jeerakaristam and sukumara
leham was rejected by USA as
“not being listed for approved
exports and lacks labelling.”
Likewise the consignments
containing line or lime chilly
pickle in oil, chilly pickle,
mango lime pickle in oil mango
chilly pickle, vadu mango
pickle in oil and avaka mango
pickle in oil were rejected due
to unsafe colours and for the
reason of the manufacturer not
being registered as processor of
low acid canned foods.
Many developed
countries have imposed
stringent SPS norms on food
items which are much higher
than the Codex norms and this
SPICE
INDIA
is causing the rejection of
export consignments of
developing countries including
India. Indeed, conforming to an
internationally-accepted
standard is essential not only
for exports but also domestic
sales. One also cannot ignore
the fact that the issue of human
and animal health and plant
protection is getting importance
in developed countries’ agenda
fuelled by recent cases of food
poisoning, spread of pests
among animals and
environmental contamination.
International trade is a conduit
for spreading them. A balance
has to be maintained between
adherence to a global threshold
for standards and standards
dictated by a few countries to
protect their industries. The
LMOs norms evolved by the
IPPC are special significance
for developing countries which
could now use the same risk
analysis criteria as developed
countries and form them the
basis for prohibiting or restrict
the import and domestic use of
LMOs. About 130 countries
have adopted the new
guidelines of IPPC. The SPS
Agreement requires that
countries should apply
comparable SPS policies in
comparable situations.
Countries should make their
SPS policies transparent so as
to facilitate compliance with
35
 SPICE
INDIA
º{ÉÉ<ºÉäºÉ
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trade and nearly all the
application of SPS measures
has been addressed.
The new Plant
Quarantine (Regulation of
Import into India) Order, 2003,
has become effective from
2004 in India. This new Plant
Quarantine law for regulating
imports has evoked varied and
mixed responses in the
domestic food industry. The
domestic food industry is
largely of the view that
regulations in the country
should be strengthened to
facilitate up gradation and
implementation of food safety
standards. India should also
develop expertise to challenge
any SPS norms being used on
flimsy ground by developed
countries to check imports from
them. There is a need to
develop globally acceptable
standards for food products in
the country. There should be
proper implementation of
quality norms. Agencies like
the Export Inspection Council,
Agricultural and Processed
Food Exports Development
Authority and Marine Products
Export Development Authority
are the ones which look after
the interest of exporters. The
Ministry of Food Processing
industries being the nodal
government entity are
proactively involved with the
food processing industries
within the macro issues of
policies and plans for the sector.
In addition to these, many
regulatory authorities are
taking these issues in a piece
meal manner. There are Export
Promotion Councils,
Commodities Boards, and host
of regulatory bodies at the state
level.
There is a need to
strengthen the Codex/IPPC
mechanism and the norms set
by them should ultimately
referred to in settling disputes
and not any country standard.
The unnecessary stringent SPS
norms set by the WTO member
countries should be questioned
if they are impediments to
global trade. The capacity of
developing countries to
participate in the WTO SPS
agreement must be
strengthened. Standards and
trade development facility
established under the auspices
of the WTO and sister
organizations like the FAO/
WHO, OIE, IPPC and the
World Bank are needed to
support 89 per cent of the
countries of the world which
fell in the category of
developing/least developed
countries l

Pioneers in the field of Processing

UMA EXPORTS
'KRITHIKA' Brand Green Pepper
in Brine, Dehydrated Green
Pepper, Canned Green Pepper &
Pink Pepper in Brine
Kaimanam P.O. exclusively for export since
Trivandrum - 695040 1970. Also we process for
Tel. Off : 91 471 2491588 export - Black Pepper,
Res : 2491051/2493812 Red Chillies, Piri-Piri
Fax : 91 471 2490457
and Other
Spices
E-mail : umaexports@eth.net

November
2004 36

HIGH EFFICIENT MOBILE PEPPER THRESHER
P. Ravi Kumar, Field Officer, Spices Board, Kalpetta-673121.
Wyanad District, Kerala
Black pepper was a
money spinning spice and a
major foreign exchange earner
till recently. However the cost
of production of pepper has
risen considerably over the
years and it has become a
labour intensive crop. On an av-
erage 178 man days are re-
quired per hectare. Of this
nearly 60 percent of the ex-
pense is attributed towards
labour wages. During 1980-
1995 the wages went up by 40
percent in the pepper growing
tracts compared to 47 percent
in Malaysia during the same
period (Sivaraman, Madan and
Tamil Selvan, 2002), which
implies that the employment of
labour in pepper production has
to be brought down consider-
ably in order to compete with
other pepper producing coun-
tries in export of pepper. Keep-
ing this in mind a progressive
farmer from Wayanad district in
Kerala State (Sri.Antony,
Aryapallil House, Kammana
P.O. Mananthavady TK,
Wayanad District) has fabri-
cated a pepper thresher of 1500
kg threshing capacity per hour
which is four times more effi-
cient than the other threshers
November
2004
SPICE
INDIA
º{ÉÉ<ºÉäºÉ
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and a winnower which have the other models but with some
come as a boon to the pepper modifications to increase the
growers. This innovation was efficiency of the thresher. The
been submitted to National In- roller is made of rubber sheet
novation Foundation, with a number of ridges which
Ahemdabad for nomination and facilitates separation of berries
has been short listed for the from the spikes. A wire screen
award. Spices Board has ap- of five squre cm separates the
proved this thresher for use by berries and the spent spike with
the farmers under post harvest ease. In the thresher available
developmental scheme. in the market the spikes need
to be fed two to three times to
Threshing of pepper: remove most of the pepper ber-
Traditionally pepper was ries whereas, this thresher re-
despiked by trampling with moves most of the berries in the
legs. This method is tedious, first feeding itself thereby re-
crude, unhygienic (Amala Dhas ducing the time for threshing.
and Korikanthimath, 2003) and For threshing only two persons
costly compared to using pep- are required one for feeding the
per thresher (Ravi Kumar et al., spikes and another for collect-
1998). A num-
ber of pepper
thresher are
available in
the market
with threshing
capacity rang-
ing from 50-
600 kg per
hour.
Thresh-
ing efficiency:
The thresher
fabricated re-
sembles that of Threshing in progrress
37
 SPICE
INDIA
º{ÉÉ<ºÉäºÉ
¦ÉÉ®úiÉ

A view of the pepper thresher
ing the berries. Presence of
broken berries after threshing
is comparatively less than the
conventional threshers due to
the presence of rubber roller.
Cut off valve: Generally
the spikes are to be fed evenly
at regular intervals in order to
remove the berries from the
spikes. If spikes are fed in bulk
inadvertently the cut off valve
will relieve strain to the
thresher thereby preventing
crushing of berries.
Versatility of the ma-
chine: Generally pepper
threshers available in the mar-
ket are operated by electricity.
But this machine by connect-
ing it to the mini tiller of 8-10
HP could be transported with
ease and operated in remote
areas where electricity is not
available. The pepper thresher
shaft is connected to the front
wheel axial of the tiller axial
and the rotation per minute
(rpm) of the tiller is adjusted to
1000 rpm and the spikes are fed
to the thresher. This tiller con-
sumes only one litre of fuel for
threshing 1500 kg of berries in
an hour. Thus, the cost of
threshing is very less compared
to traditional method of tram-
pling by feet and using the
threshers available in the mar-
ket. By using this thresher, cost
for threshing one metric tonne
is less than Rs.500/- when com-
pared to trampling by feet
(Rs.2000/- for 20 workers).
Use of this mobile
thresher can reduce labour op-
eration and production cost.
References
Heartwin Amala Dhas, P and
Korikanthimath, V.S. 2003.
Processing and quality of black
pepper a revies. J. of Spices and Aro-
matic Crops. 12(1):1-13.
Ravi Kumar, P, Kaliappan, R
& Viswanathan, R. 1998.
Pepper thresher. Spice India
11(3):20-21.
Sivaraman, K, Madan, M S &
Tamil Selvan, M 2002.
Black Pepper Guide director-
ate of Arecanut and Spice Develop-
ment. Calicut. 56-63.

With best compliments from: Phone : 0481-2362353/2360348

Fax : 0481-2361822
Residence : 0481-2361821
E-mail : pepperex@md4.vsnl.net.in
Website : http.www.marcospepper.com
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NAVEEN MARCOS
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PROCESSORS & EXPORTERS

Bipin's Court, Nattakom P.O.,
Kottayam 686 013
Kerala, India.

DEHYDRATED GREEN PEPPER, GREEN PEPPER IN BRINE

CANNED GREEN PEPPER, PINK PEPPER IN BRINE ETC.

November
2004 38
 SPICE
INDIA
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CURCUMIN RICH TURMERIC VARIETIES FROM

KERALA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

Alice Kurian, E. V. Nybe, P. A. Valsala and M. Asha Sankar

Department of Plantation Crops & Spices, College of Horticulture,
Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara- 680656, Kerala

Turmeric (Curcuma community elite turmeric Sona and Varna developed

longa L.) the most popular
colouring spice is gaining
more significance as a
healing spice. As a
therapeutic agent, it is valued
as anticancerous,
antidiabetic, anti
inflammatory and antiseptic.
The properties of turmeric,
as a spice or as a medicine,
are ascribed to the colouring
principle, curcumin. This has
created great demand for the
isolated curcumin in the
global market. ‘Alleppey
Finger Turmeric’ (AFT)
produced, processed and
exported from Kerala is a
highly relished trade form
due to the high curcumin
content coming over 5.5
percent. Medium duration
cultivars are found more
suited to Kerala, where
rainfed system of turmeric
cultivation is prevalent.
Kerala Agricultural
University, in its endeavour
to provide farming
November
2004
varieties, has assembled a
large germplasm from all
over the country and through
systematic evaluation of
germplasm material, released
four high yielding high
curcumin turmeric varieties.
They were evolved through
clonal selection from
germplasm material. All of
them are medium duration
varieties with crop duration
of 240 to 270 days, a
characteristic essential to
suit the rainfed system of
turmeric cultivation. They
have high yield potential
ranging from 4.02 to 8.27
tonnes of dry rhizomes ha-1
and show field tolerance to
Taphrina leaf spot. The
rhizomes are medium bold
and orange yellow. The
unique feature of turmeric
varieties of KAU is that they
have more than 7.0 percent
curcumin in composite
sample and 5.0 per cent in
fingers. The varieties Sobha,
through clonal selection of
germplasm material
collected from hot spots of
turmeric cultivation in the
state, can behold truly the
intrinsic qualities of
‘Alleppey Fingers’. In the
current era of globalization
and consumerism, such high
curcumin varieties are surely
a boon to make a lead in the
global trade of turmeric and
thrive over strong
competitions. For turmeric,
unlike for ginger, another
zingiber that is widely
cultivated, the risk in
cultivation is rather
negligible. The crop can be
raised from the rhizomes
with the onset of monsoon in
raised beds at a spacing of
25x 25 cm. The crop prefers
heavy organic manuring and
mulching with green leaves
to reap a good yield. The
shade loving nature of the
crop makes it ideal for
intercropping in the vast
spreads of coconut
39
 SPICE
INDIA
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plantations. The seed Department of Plantation 680656, Kerala during

rhizomes of these varieties Crops & Spices, College of March-April with prior
can be obtained from the Horticulture, Vellanikkara – booking.
Yield and quality attributes of turmeric varieties from KAU

Curcumin (%)
Variety Year of Parentage Dry yield Driage Composite Finger Oleoresin Volatile
release (t ha-1) (%) sample (%) oil (%)

Kanthi 1996 Mydukur of Andhra 7.34 to 8.27 20.15 7.18 5.1 8.25 5.15
Sobha 1996 Local germplasm 5.74 to 6.51 19.28 7.39 6.2 9.65 4.24
Sona 2002 Local germplasm 4.02 to 7.05 18.88 7.11 6.25 10.25 4.40
Varna 2002 Local germplasm 4.16 to 6.37 19.05 7.87 6.0 10.80 4.56

PURE
RAVIRAJ
SPICES

RAVIRAJ
PIONEER & LEADING MANUFACTURERS & EXPORTERS OF QUALITY SPICES
Pioneers in the field of processing "RAVIRAJ"

BRAND TURMERIC, CHILLI, CORIANDER, MADRAS/MYSORE SAMBAR,

RASAM, GARAM MASALA POWDERS,

Exclusively for export Since 1992, Raviraj supplies whole Spices and Ground Spices
in bulk and small packs as per buyers specification

Specialist for "Guntur Chillies"

For Trade Enquiries and Export contact:

RAVIRAJ SPICES EXPORT PVT. LTD.

Off: Elurubazar, Sadhu Complex
Guntur - 522 003, Andhra Pradesh
Ph: 91-863 2222168(O), 2240662(F), Fax: 91-863 2222168
E-mail: ravirajspices@email.com, www.ravirajspices.com

November
2004 40

Grow Celery - This way
Celery (Apium
graveolens) is a herb grown
as a winter annual crop for its
seed. It is also grown for its
long fleshy leaf stalk and looks
some what like leafy onion. It
ranks second in importance
among salad crops. Introduced
from France in early thirties, it
is commercially grown in
Amritsar, Gurdaspur and
Jallandhar districts in Punjab
and to small extent in
Saharanpur disrict of Western
Uttar Pradesh. Many farmers
too grow this on borders of
wheat fields and obtain good
yield. At present, about 8000
hectares land is under its
cultivation. Its seeds are used
as a spice, whereas seed oil is
employed for seasoning and
flavoring of sauces and purees.
Its seeds are also used as
condiment, spices as well as
medicines.
In USA, France and other
European countries, it is grown
commercially and is available
in the market throughout the
year. In western countries, its
succulent green leaves are used
as salad and grow biennial type
cultures for seed.
November
2004
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G.S. Saini
Agri-Horticulture Consultant,
5E/9B (B.P.)
N.I.T. Faridabad - 121001
Celery, an annual
glabrous herb, grows with erect
stem and pinnate compound
leaves having long stalks. Its
shallow root system has a
tapering thick main root going
up to 15 cm below the soil,
giving out compound umbels
late in the season. These are
made up of numerous greenish
white protandrous flowers. The
seeds are very small, dark
brown cremocarp, emitting
characteristic odour.
Climate
Celery thrives best when
the weather is relatively cool
having a moderate and well
distributed rainfall during its
growing period (Thompson and
Kelley, 1957). According to
Naik (1958), the crop comes up
well in places having low
humidity and where plenty of
sunshine is available. It can also
be grown in dry regions also as
an irrigated crop. Celery is a
moisture loving crop. Higher
temperature causes bitterness in
the leaves. The crop bolts when
SPICE
INDIA
temperature falls below 15° C.
Soil
Celery thrives well on
loamy soils. However it can be
grown in any good soil. It slight
by sensitive to acid soils, hence
a pH of 6.6 is optimum. It does
not perform well at a pH above
6.7. Francois and West (1980)
reported that the celery is
moderately sensitive to salinity.
Well pulverized fine soil
is necessary for the crop. Hence
the field should be well
prepared by repeated
ploughing, rolling and
compacting of the loose soil.
Cultivar
Selection RRL 85-1: This
is the only cultivar, which has
been developed by the
Regional Research Laboratroy
(CSIR). The cultivar is most
suitable for the production of
seed crop of Celery. It yields
two-three percent yellow
volatile oil. The oil contains
selinene, d-limonene,
sadanolide and some
resquiterpenes. It has 16-20
percent fatty oil.
41

Propagation
Celery is propagated
through seeds, sown during
September-end (Punjab), in
rows in well-prepared flat
nursery beds. Usually 20 beds
of 8 x1.2 metre size provide
seedlings for one hectare land.
One kg seed is enough for a
hectare. Seeds germinate in 10-
21 days. The seedlings 10 cm
tall (60-70 days after sowing )
become suitable for planting
November-December. Delay in
planting causes early bolting,
reducing seed yield.
Manuring and fertilization
Celery requires a planting causes early bolting,
carefully prepared, heavily
manured soil. But due to its
shallow root system, major
portion of plant nutrients are
drawn from the top soil. The
farm yard manure (10-20
tonnes/ha) alongwith N,P and
K (60,60 and 40 kg/ha) are
added at land preparation. The
nitrogenous fertilizers should
be applied in two splits 30 and
60 days after planting.
Calcium deficiency seems
to result in the disorder known
as black heart which first shows
a tipburn on the young leaves.
This can be prevented by foliar
application of 0.10 molar
solution of calcium nitrate or
calcium chloride. Born
deficiency results in cracked
stem with lesions on the inner
or outer surface of petioles and
over the vascular bundles,
which can be controlled by the
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2004
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application of commercial bora
ate 12 kg per hectare, applied
in solution near the base of the
plant. It may be applied in dry
form or can be mixed with
fertilizer. Sometimes
magnesium deficiency can also
cause chlorosis. In such soils,
10 kg magnesium sulphate is
applied at land preparation (10
days before planting)
Transplanting
The seedlings become
suitable for planting with in 60-
70 days after sowing. Seedlings
should be planted during
November-December. Delay in
reducing seed yield. A spacing
of 40 cm x 15 cm is
recommended in north-south
direction to get maximum
exposure to sun.
Irrigation
The crop requires
frequent irrigation with good
drainage which is essential for
its success. 10 light irrigations
are sufficient for this crop.
However, irrigation is
depending on soil, temperature
etc.
Weed control
Good quality crop
depends on timely cultural
operations by which a
continuous fairly rapid growth
of crop can be assured. Celery
responds more to the
cultivation than many other
crops.
Verma and Bhagchandani
SPICE
INDIA
(1981) reported the beneficial
effect of soil mulch in celery
crop. As the rootlets are” very
fine, brittle and spread near the
soil surface, which are liable to
be broken at every operation of
soil, shallow cultivation should
be practiced. Radish or early
lettuce can be grown with
celery as cover crop and it can
also be successfully grown after
early potato.
Since celery is a long
duration crop, weeds are
troublesome on most soils. Soil
should be hoed lightly but
frequently and all lateral shoots
renewed as they appear. Pre-
planting application of Basalin
(2kg/ha) control weeds.
Harvesting
It flowers during March
and sets fruits during April. The
crop is harvested when 80
percent umbels begin to turn
light brown to dark brown in
colour. The plants are cut at the
ground level. Since seed
shattering is common,
harvesting it in early morning
hours is advised.
After cutting the crop it
should be dried over threshing
floor for a few days before
thrashing and winnowing.
Yield
It produces 1.4 tonnes/ha
of seed. Seeds are graded
through sieving and stored in
gunny bags in a cool dry place.
Diseases
• Damping off: This is
42

caused by pythium spp. Top
ling over of infected seedlings
at any time after emergence is
generally observed. Infection
generally occurs at or below the
ground level. Infected tissue
becomes soft and water-soaked
as the disease advances. The
stem becomes constricted at the
base and ultimately collapses
even with in a day.
Application of four gram
Brassicol per sq m beneficial.
Soil treatment with formal
dehyde at 1:50 upto a depth of
10 cm has been recommended
by Singh (1963).
• Early Blight: This is
caused by Cercospora appii
Fres. It first appears mainly on
older leaves as scattered small
NIIR
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2004
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circular brownish yellow spot
with concentric rings, which
enlarge rapidly having a light
brown central area.
• As it is a seed-borne
disease, hot water treatment of
seed at 48° C for 30 minutes is
effective. Dipping the seeds in
1:300 Formaldehyde solution,
spraying or dusting the
seedlings with copper fungicide
is an economical measures for
delaying its development.
Spraying should be done at an
interval of 21 days.
• Late Blight: This is
caused by Septoria apii graves
lentis. Dorogen. Small circular
watersoaked area develops on
tips and margins of older
EVENTS
SPICE
INDIA
leaves, in January having black
fruiting bodies. Later on, those
areas turn black and all plants
situated above the ground are
affected.
Hot water treatment of
seed (48-49° C for 30 minutes)
is recommended. Use seeds
from disease free plants. Treat
seed with Bavistin or Benomyl
@ 1.5 g/kg seed.
Pests
Leaf minor, green celery
worm, thrips, celery looper,
celery caterpillor, carrot rust fly
and apphid are some of the
pests which attack celery.
To control these pests
spraying of Malathion 0.1
percent spraying of neem oil at
2 percent twice at 10 days
interval.
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CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR IMPORTANT

SPICES – DECEMBER
Timely planning and of the area is important for To facilitate this a calendar of
execution of farm operations successful farming for higher operations in respect of
based on agroclimatic conditions productivity and sustainability. important spice crops for
December is given below.

Name of the crop/Type of operation Details of the operations

CARDAMOM
I Agronomic measures
NURSERY
➢ Regular watering may be given to bed/polybag/
sucker nursery based on necessity.
➢ Make ready the polythene bags of size 20 cm x 20
cm(HMHDPE)by filling with potting mixture in
the ratio of 3:1:1 of jungle top soil, powdered farm
yard manure and sand for raising seedlings in
polybags.
➢ Transplant the seedlings which attained three - four
leaf stage to the polythene bags from the primary
nursery.
➢ Sliced mulch material may be used for mulching the
exposed surface area of polybags and in between
rows in the case of bed seedlings and suckers.
➢ Shoot borer and cut worm incidence can be
controlled by spraying 0.075 percent
Monocrotophos (210 ml/100 liters of water) or
Fenthion (95 ml/100 liters of water).
MAIN FIELD
➢ In areas where weeding is not carried out, clean
weeding at the base of the plants and slash weeding
in the inter spaces can be adopted and use the
weeded material as a mulch.
II Pest Management
➢ Spraying with either phosalone 200 ml/100 liters of
water or dimethoate @ 167 ml/100 liters of water
can effectively control thrips attack.
III Disease management
➢ For Chenthal, if noticed, may be controlled by
spraying with one percent bordeaux mixture.
November
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IV. Harvest and Post harvest operations
➢ Harvesting can be continued with a gap of 25 to 30
days depending upon the weather conditions and
maturity of capsules. Ensure always, right
maturity for better out-turn.
➢ Wash harvested capsules thoroughly before drying
in curing chamber.
➢ Timely removal of water vapour from curing
chamber and maintaining proper temperature
during curing will result in better green colour of
the produce.
➢ Clean and store the cured cardamom at 10 percent
moisture level in black polythene lined gunny bags
and inside wooden boxes.
LARGE CARDAMOM NURSERY
➢ Regular watering may be continued in primary.
secondary and sucker nursery.
➢ Mulching may be done in sucker nursery and
secondary nursery.
➢ Overhead pandal may be erected with 50 percent
shade wherever required.
MAINFIELD
➢ Harvesting may be continued in high altitude areas.
Curing, cleaning and packing of the produce may
be continued.
➢ The base of the plant may be remulched after
harvest of the crop.
➢ In plantation irrigation may be continued whenever
required depending upon the weather.
➢ Chirke and Foorkey infected plants may be
removed and destroyed at regular intervals.
➢ Leaf eating caterpillars may be hand picked and
destroyed mechanically.
PEPPER
I Agronomic measures
➢ Selection and labelling of good mother vines for
collection of planting materials can be continued.
➢ Wherever shade is inadequate, provide temporary
cover with dry arecanut/coconut fronds or tree
twigs for young vines to protect from direct sun
light.
November
2004 45
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➢ Mulch the base of the vines with organic waste

materials like dried leaves, weeds etc., to conserve
the soil moisture.
➢ The growing vines may be tied to the standard and
trained properly.
II Disease Management
➢ Vines affected by little leaf or phyllody may be
uprooted and destroyed.
III Harvest and Post harvest operations
➢ Continue harvesting. Harvest when the spike attains
the right maturity by watching for colour change
in one or two berries in a spike from green to orange
or red.
➢ Always ensure threshing of pepper by hygienic
means either by manually or using mechanical
pepper thresher.
➢ For drying use only clean drying yards, clean
bamboo mats or polythene sheets.
VANILLA
Agronomic measures
➢ Provide individual shade to newly planted vines/
seedlings with arecanut/coconut fronds or tree
twigs to avoid the effect of direct sunlight.
➢ Irrigate the vines wherever necessary based on
weather condition.
➢ Always ensure adequate mulch material with
organic debris.
➢ Tying of vines to the standard to be continued based
on necessity.
➢ If flowering observed in lower elevations, pollinate
the flowers manually with the help of skilled
labourers between 6.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. on the
day of opening of the flower.
II Disease management
➢ Vanilla vines exhibiting any viral symptoms are to
be immediately removed and destroyed.
III Harvest and post harvest management
➢ Continue harvesting. Harvest when light yellowing
is observed at the distal end of the bean to ensure
better quality of cured beans.
November
2004 46
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➢ Adopt Bourbon method for processing the beans

or sell green beans immediately after harvest.
GINGER
Harvest
➢ Drying of shoots indicates the maturity of ginger
rhizomes.
➢ If ready for harvest already marked plants may be
harvested separately for using them later as seed
rhizomes.
➢ The remaining plants can be harvested on seeing
the indication of maturity.
II Storage of seed rhizomes
➢ Seed rhizomes may be soaked in 0.3 percent
dithane M 45 and 0.1 percent malathion solution
for 30 minutes. Then drain and dry under shade.
➢ Store them in pits under shade with alternate layers
of sand or saw dust with ginger rhizomes. Leave
some gap over the top layer and close the pit either
with a wooden/earthen lid with holes or coconut
fronds.
III Post harvest management
➢ For making dried ginger, the harvested rhizomes
are thoroughly washed in water.
➢ Then outer skin is removed with sharpened bamboo
splits.
➢ Soaking the rhizomes overnight in water will help
easy pealing of the outer skin.
➢ The pealed rhizomes are spread uniformly on clean
drying yards/bamboo mats/polythene sheets and
allowed to dry for seven - nine days with
occasional turning.
TURMERIC
Harvesting
➢ Drying of shoots indicates the maturity of turmeric
rhizomes.
➢ If ready for harvest already marked plants may be
harvested separately for using them later for seed
purpose.
➢ The remaining plants can be harvested on seeing
the indication of maturity.
November
2004 47
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II Storage of seed rhizome

➢ Seed rhizomes may be soaked in 0.3 percent dithane
M 45 and 0.1 percent malathion solution for 30
minutes. Then drain and dry under shade.
➢ Store them in pits under shade with alternate layers
of sand or saw dust with turmeric rhizomes. Leave
some gap over the top layer and close the pit either
with a wooden/earthen lid with holes or coconut
fronds.
III Post harvest management
➢ Cure the finger and mother rhizomes separately for
better quality of the produce.
➢ Curing is to be done by boiling rhizomes in fresh
water and drying in sun.
➢ After cooking sun dry the rhizomes by spreading in
five - seven cm thick layers on clean bamboo mats
or cement yards for 10-15 days for proper drying.
➢ Polish the dried turmeric using a mechanical
polisher.
CHILLI
➢ Apply fertilizer @ 50:25 kg/ha of nitrogen & potash.
➢ Irrigate once in 20-25 days in black soils & 10-15
days in red loamy soils.
➢ Spray captain 1.5 g or mancozeb 2.5 g or copper
oxychloride 3 g/litre of water to control die back
& fruit rot diseases.
➢ For monitoring pod borers change the lure of
Pheromone traps and apply N.P.V. @ 200 litres
per acre or acephate 1 g/litre
FENNEL(Kharif transplanted)
➢ Crop should be irrigated at an interval of 15-20 days
if optimum moisture is not available in the soil.
➢ To control ramularia blight spraying of 0.2 percent
mancozeb 75 w.p. may be done.
➢ Spray any systemic insecticide to control aphid, if
observed.
FENNEL (Rabi transplanted)
➢ Irrigation should be given as per need.
➢ Top dressing of 22.5 kg. nitrogen per ha. may be
done.
November
2004 48
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➢ Intercultural operation and hand weeding may be

done during first week and earthing up may be done
during second fortnight.
➢ To control ramularia blight spraying of 0.2 percent
mancozeb 75 w.p. may be done.
➢ Spray any systemic insecticide to control aphid.
FENNEL(Rabi drilled)
➢ Irrigation should be given as per need.
➢ Top dressing of 22.5 kg. nitrogen per ha. may be
done around 15th December.
➢ Intercultural operation and hand weding may be done
during first week.
➢ While doing interculture harrow should be adjusted
in such a way that sufficient soil is thrown near the
stem of plants to supplement the earthing up
operation.
➢ To control ramularia blight spraying of 0.2 percent
mancozeb 75 w.p. may be done.
➢ Spray any systemic insecticide to control aphid, if
observed.
CORIANDER
➢ Second weeding may be carried out during second
fortnight and crop may be irrigated.
➢ Last dose of 20 kg. nitrogen per ha. recommended
for irrigated crop may be top dressed.
➢ To control powdery mildew dust 300 mesh sulphur
powder @ 25 kg/ha. in the early morning hours.
➢ Spray any systemic insecticide to control aphid, if
observed.
CUMIN
➢ Weeding and hoeing may be done during second
week. 15 kg nitrogen per ha. may be top dressed
one month after germination of seeds.
➢ Irrigation may be given at an interval of 15 days.
➢ To control blight disease spraying of 0.2 percent
mancozeb 75 w.p. may be done during 2nd week and
thereafter three more spraying at an interval of 10
days.
November
2004 49
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CELERY
➢ 1-2 round weeding may be done in nursery.
➢ Irrigations in nursery may be continued at an interval
of 10-15 days till seedling become ready for
transplanting.
FENUGREEK
➢ Thinning of plants may be done to maintain the plant
spacing at about 8-10 cm. in broadcasted crop.
➢ Weeding and hoeing may be carried out during first
week and repeat after 20-25 days. After thinning
& weeding crop may be irrigated.
➢ 20 kg. nitrogen per hectare may be top dressed
during first week.
➢ Second irrigation may be given 20-25 days after first
irrigation.

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MONTHLY AVERAGE PRICES OF SPICES FOR OCTOBER 2004

Spice Centre Grade Price Rs./Kg.
Black Pepper Cochin Ungarbled 61.08
Garbled 64.08
Cardamom small Vandanmettu 330.74
(Auction) Bodinayakanur 266.73
Saklaspur 242.35
Calicut 276.81
Nedumkandam 277.59
Cardamom (L) Siliguri Badadana 111.00
Chotadana 96.63
Chillies Virudhunagar 19.58
Guntur Cold storage 31.68
Non cold storage 21.47
Ginger (Dry) Cochin Best 140.00
Medium 130.00
Turmeric Cochin Alleppey Finger 55.00
Mumbai Rajpuri Finger 57.50
Coriander Indori 18.22
Kanpuri 20.18
Cumin 4% Mumbai - 68.38
Fennel Mumbai - 45.00
Fenugreek Mumbai - 15.60
Mustard Delhi - 18.91
Garlic Mumbai - 21.00
Celery Mumbai - 29.55
Clove Cochin - 250.00
Nutmeg (with shell) Cochin - 105.00
Mace Cochin - 330.00
Cinnamon Delhi - 50.17
Cassia Chennai - 52.72
Spices Sources
Black Pepper : India Pepper & Spice Trade Association, Cochin
Cardamom (Small) : Auction reports received from licensed cardamom Auctioneers
Cardamom (Large) : Spices Board's Regional Office, Gangtok
Ginger (Dry), Turmeric : Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Cochin
Chillies (V'Nagar) : Virudhunagar Chillies Merchangs Association
Turmeric, Coriander : M/s. Chhaganlal Kalidas Metha, Mumbai
Cumin, Fennel, Fenugreek,
Garlic, Celery Cinnamon &
Mustard (Delhi) : Regional Office of the Spices Board, Delhi
Clove, Nutmeg, & Mace : Indian Express
Cassia : Regional Office of Spices Board, Chennai.

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AVERAGE INTERNATIONAL SPOT PRICES OF SPICES FOR OCTOBER 2004

Spice Market Grade USD/KG (RS/KG)
Black Pepper U.S.A. MG-1 1.64 75.08
White Pepper U.S.A. Muntok 2.52 115.37
Cardamom (Small) Saudi Arabia Fancy Green 9.79 448.19
India Asta
Extra Bold 9.30 425.75
Chillies U.S.A. India S4 1.30 59.51
Chinese Small 2.16 98.88
Ginger (Dry) U.S.A. Ind/Cochin 5.19 237.60.87
Chinese whole pealed 2.76 126.35
Turmeric U.S.A. AFT 5.50 Curcumin 1.99 91.10
Coriander U.S.A. Canadian 0.82 37.54
Cumin U.S.A. Tur/Pakistan 1.94 88.81
Indian 2.10 96.14
Fennel U.S.A. India Asta 1.24 56.77
Egyptian Fancy 1.30 59.51
Fennugreek U.S.A. Ind/Turkey 0.75 34.34
Clove U.S.A. Mad/Zan/Com 3.95 180.83

Exchange Rate : 1 US $ = Rs. 45.78

Source : 1. A.A. Sayia & Co. Inc. Hoboken 2.Market News Service ITC, Geneva

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