Punnathanam Jathy An Improved Nutmeg Variety
About the Practice
Punnathanam Jathy is an extra-large nutmeg variety developed in 1994 through selection from a local variety and further multiplied by budding. The variety gives nutmegs of extra-large size (4.5 cm long & 3 cm wide). A full bearing Punnathanam Jathy tree gives an average of 3000 fruits/tree/year and theweight of 50 dry fruits is 1kg & weight of 250 dry maces is 1 kg. There is comparatively less breakage of fruits and the variety is tolerant to pests. The variety is being cultivated organically and requires less maintenance. Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut, Kerala & Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Idukki, Kerala confirmed the extra- large size of fruits & nuts, high yield, dark red mace with fully covered seed and tolerance to pests. It has upright growing habit. The variety has already been diffused to Idukki, Ernakulum, Kottayam and Trivandram districts of Kerala with over 500 saplings being sold. Varkey has a small nursery of Punnathanam Jathy started about three years ago. The saplings developed from the kernels include both male and female ones. It is his special skill which enables him to select the female samplings, which he sells, by visual selection. Varkey says that he is the only one farmer in the locality who sells the saplings raised from kernels. He prefers kernel-raised saplings over budded ones because he claims that the kernel-raised trees live longer, even more than 90 years with good yield. Apart from nutmeg, he cultivates black pepper, cocoa and cardamom. He completely follows organic methods for all the crops and uses a special mixture of fertilizer called jaivamrutham. Even in his late 70s, Varkey is still quite active in his farm and feels happy about his life as a farmer. For his contributions in agriculture, he has received recognition at various levels and his work has been published in vernacular newspapers and periodicals.
About the Innovator
Agro-Ecological Zone: Agro Ecological Sub Region (ICAR) Western Ghats And Coastal Plain, Hot Humid Region (19.2), Agro-Climatic Region (Planning Commission) Western Plain and Ghat Region (XII), Agro Climatic Zone (NARP) High altitude zone (KE-4)
Address: Kerala
District: Ahmedabad
State: Kerala
PIN Code 685606
Practice Details
Crop: nutmeg
Crop Family: Myristicaceae
Crop Scientific Name: (Myristica fragrans)
Crop Vernacular Name: Nutmeg, joipol