Spices constitute an important group of agricultural commodities which, since antiquity, have been used for flavouring foods. Some species are used in the pharmaceutical, perfumery, cosmetics and related industries, and others possess colourant, preservative, antioxidant, antiseptic and antibiotic properties. India is one of the leading spice producing and exporting countries in the world. In addition, large quantities of spices are consumed within the country for seasoning of food and for several other purposes. No other country in the world has such a diverse variety of spice crops as India. This book reflects the intensive research carried out on this group of 42 spice crops since 1971, the improvement in agro-techniques and the release of many high-yielding varieties. It provides exhaustive information on all aspects of cultivation, harvesting and processing of each crop and will be an invaluable aid to students, teachers and growers of spice crops, both individual and corporate.
Azhar Ali Farooqi, Professor of Horticulture (medicinal and Aromatic Plants), has 33 years of experience in teaching, research and extension in fruit, plantation, medicinal and aromatic crops. He has worked on three GOI sponsored research projects on the developement of medicinal and aromatic plants and spice crops. He has established an amazing herbal garden comprising of 175 species of medicinal plants of commercial importance, including some endangered species and a crop museum of 35 species. He has published 75 scientific papers, and has written 30 popular articles in international and national journals and is the author of 3 books in the field of medicinal and aromatic plants. B S Sreeramu, Associate Professor of Horticulture, has over 24 years of experience in teaching, research and extension of horticulture crops including plantation, spice, medicinal and aromatic crops. Presently, he is working on one National Medicinal Plants. Board sponsored project and he has standardised the package of practices for Roselle and Makoi. He has published 42 research papers, 180 popular aromatic plants. He is one of the co-authors of seven chapters in the book Tropical Horticulture vol-1. K N Srinivasappa has over seven years of experience in research, teaching and extension activities of horticultural crops including vegetables, plantation, spice, medicinal and aromatic crops. He is presently working on a medicinal plants project awarded by the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi. He has specially worked on breeding and crop improvement of Solanum, Coleus and other medicinal crops. He has published 25 scientific papers, 80 popular articles and is the author of 6 books in the field of spice, medicinal and aromatic crops.