SPICES : :
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| Majority
of the population in Kerala are dependent directly or indirectly on
agriculture for their livelihood. The main crops grown in the state
are paddy, coconut, pepper, cashew, cassava, and plantation crops
like rubber. Kerala is an Agrarian economy. Cash crops, like coconuts,
rubber, tea and coffee, pepper and cardamom, cashew, areca nut, nutmeg,
ginger, cinnamon, cloves and the like, give the agriculture of Kerala
a distinct flavour. It is coconuts which bring the people their principal
source of earning in agriculture. Nearly 70% of Indian output of coconuts
is provided by Kerala. Cashew is an important cash crop of the state.
The state has facilities for converting raw cashew into the dried
fruit, salted or plain. Cardamom is another cash crop which gives
Kerala a distinctive place in Indian export. Alappuzha, one the district
of Kerala known as the 'rice bowl of the state', has a predominant
position in the production of rice. |
| Pepper
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In
India, Pepper is commonly cultivated as "homestead cultivation"
growing it as a secondary crop interspersed with several other
crops. Cultivation of pepper as a pure crop is also practiced
though it is becoming rare. It is more so in Kerala State, which
accounts for 97.4 per cent of the total area under the crop
in the country. It is a plant of humid tropics, requiring 2000-3000
mm of rainfall, tropical temperature and high relative humidity
with little variation in day length throughout the year. Black
pepper does not tolerate excessive heat and dryness.
Pepper plant is essentially a crop of the wet tropics. It requires
a moderate well-distributed rainfall with high temperature for
better performance. Studies carried out in pepper growing areas
identified specific cultivars/varieties suitable for different
agro ecological regions as well as for growing under different
cropping systems. In general, light showers during May-June
are considered beneficial for fruit set. |
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| Cardamom |
| Cardamom
(Elettaria cardamom Maton) the "Queen of Spices" enjoys a unique
position in the international spices market, as one of the most
sought after spices. From time immemorial, India is known as
the home of cardamom. Cardamom is indigenous to the evergreen
forests of Western Ghats in South India. Till recently India
was the main producer and exporter of this commodity. Of late
Guatemala has emerged as a keen competitor to Indian cardamom
in the international market. The total area under cardamom is
estimated as 81,113 hectare.Cardamom is used for flavouring
various food preparations, confectionary, beverages and liquors.
It is also used for medicinal purpose, both in Allopathy and
Ayurveda systems. In the Middle East countries, cardamom is
mainly used for preparation of 'Gahwa' (cardamom flavoured coffee).The
total life span of cardamom plants is about 15-20 years |
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| Chilli |
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| Chilli
is the dried ripe fruit of the genus Capsicum. Capsicum annuum
is an annual sub –shrub, the flowers of which are borne
singly and fruits usually pendent, which provide red peppers,
cayenne, paprika and chillies and sweet pepper (bell pepper)
a mild form with large inflated fruits. |
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| Coffee |
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The coffee plant is an evergreen
shrub which an grow to 20 feet in it's natural state. The
tree is regularly pruned to 6 feet for production uses to
keep the nutrients from going to the tee rather than the beans.
The coffee plant used to produce coffee beans is by nature,
a tree. When managed properly and increasing enormously its
fruit bearing possibilities, the plant resembles a bush. The
coffee bean consists of three species: Arabica, Liberica,
and Robusta. When the coffee beans are a rich, red colour,
they are ready for harvesting. Only then are the berries picked
individually.Favourable climate, fertile soil, scientific
cultivation and stringent quality control, all contribute
to producing the finest mild coffee in the world today - rich,
smooth and full of flavour. The coffee plant Coffea arabica
is a small tree, but is pruned into a large bush to make harvesting
easier. It produces sweet-smelling white flowers; green berries,
which turn red when ripe, follow these. Each berry contains
two seeds, which are processed to make coffee for drinking.
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| Ginger |
| Ginger
is used in different forms such as raw ginger, dry ginger, bleached
dry ginger, ginger powder, sliced ginger, ginger oil, ginger
oleoresin, and ginger in brine etc. It has usage in foods, beverages,
preservatives, medicines and perfumery industries. Ginger grows
in warm and humid climate. It is mainly cultivated in the tropics
from sea level to an altitude of above 1500 MSL. Ginger thrives
best in well-drained soils like sandy or clay loam, red loam
or lateritic loam. Friable loamy soil rich in humus is ideal.
The best time for planting ginger is during the first fortnight
of May with the receipt of pre -monsoon showers. Under irrigated
conditions, it can be planted well in advance during the middle
of February or early March. The land is ploughed 4-5 times to
bring the soil to fine tilth. Weeds, stubbles, roots etc. are
removed. |
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