Lok Sabha Question No. 5075 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-24
Subject: Nutmeg Cultivation
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Eswarasamy K

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5075

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH, 2026

## NUTMEG CULTIVATION

## 5075.  SHRI ESWARASAMY K:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) the total area under nutmeg cultivation in the country and in Tamil Nadu during the last three years particularly in and around Pollachi and adjoining regions;
- (b) whether the Government provides financial assistance, subsidies, or technical support for nutmeg cultivation under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) or any other centrally sponsored scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether nutmeg farmers are covered under crop insurance schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the number of beneficiaries in Tamil Nadu;
- (d) whether any research, extension or capacity-building  programmes  have  been undertaken  to  improve  productivity,  pest  management  and  post-harvest  processing  of nutmeg; and
- (e) the steps taken to promote value addition, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and export linkages for nutmeg growers in western Tamil Nadu?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)

- (a): Total area under nutmeg cultivation in the country and in Tamil Nadu during the last three years-2022-23,  2023-24  and  2024-25  particularly  in  and  around  Pollachi  (in Coimbatore District) and adjoining regions, is given below:

## Area under cultivation of  Nutmeg

|                  |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |   2024-25 |
|------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Coimbatore       |       269 |       332 |       370 |
| Erode            |         4 |         2 |         2 |
| The Nilgiris     |        20 |        21 |        21 |
| Thirupur         |        11 |        10 |        16 |
| Tamil Nadu State |       420 |       491 |       537 |
| All India        |     24250 |     25743 |     26604 |

(Area in Hectare)

(b): Under  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH),  a  centrally sponsored  scheme  being  implemented  for  holistic  growth  of  horticulture  sector  in  the country,  assistance  is  being  provided  for  area  expansion  of  perennial  spices,  including nutmeg, @40% of the maximum eligible cost in general areas for an area up to 2 hectare on pro-rata basis; whereas, in the case of North Eastern and Himalayan States, Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) and Scheduled areas, vibrant villages, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, assistance is provided @ 50% of the maximum eligible cost for an area up to 2 hectare on pro-rata basis.

In addition, Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD) supports the production  of  nucleus  planting  materials  of  high  yielding  varieties  of  nutmeg  through various Research Stations under Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU). Production of nucleus materials programme of nutmeg is also being implemented through Indian Council of  Agricultural Research-Indian Institute of Spices Research (ICAR-IISR), Calicut; Kerala Agricultural University, Thirssur; University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore; Dr. Balasaheb  Sawant  Konkan  Krishi  Vidyapeeth  (Dr.  BSKKVP),  Dapoli  and  ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (CCARI), Goa.

(c): State of Tamil Nadu has not notified 'nutmeg' crop under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

(d): Research on nutmeg is conducted by various State Agricultural Universities (SAU) and  ICAR-IISR,  Calicut.  These  institutes  regularly  conduct  extension/capacity-building programs  on  various  aspects  of  nutmeg  production.  These  institutes  have  released varieties,  such  as,  IISR-Viswasree  and  IISR-Keralasree,  KAU-Pullan,  KAU-Kochukudy, KAU-Mundathanam,  KAU-Poothara,  KAU-  Punnathanam,  Konkan  Sugandha,  Konkan Swad, Konkan Shrimanti and Konkan Sanyukta with good quality attributes. ICAR-IISR, Calicut  have  provided  nonexclusive  licenses  to  the  entrepreneurs  from  Tamil  Nadu  for mass multiplication and distribution of quality planting materials of nutmeg adhering to the quality parameters stipulated by ICAR.

ICAR-IISR,  Calicut  have  developed  management  practices  for  the  coconut  nutmeg inter-cropping systems and nutmeg-specific micronutrient formulation for correcting the nutrient deficiencies and enabling better plant health management for higher yield.  IISR  promotes  the  use  of  Trichoderma  bio-capsules  for  easy  application  and effective  soil-borne  disease  management.  ICAR-IISR  has  standardized  drying  protocols using solar, vacuum and hot-air dryers to maintain the colour and aroma of mace and to prevent aflatoxin contamination.

ICAR-IISR has developed technologies for extracting essential oils, oleoresins and butter  from  nutmeg.  Institute  has  also  developed  methods  for  the  use  of  the  nutmeg pericarp (rind) to create value-added products like pickles, jams and candies.

Kerala Agriculture University (KAU) has developed power-operated Nutmeg Sheller for  post-harvest  processing  and  developed  technologies  for  value  added  products  from nutmeg rind.

- (e): According to the information provided by the D/o Horticulture and Plantation crops, Tamil  Nadu,  the  Tamil  Nadu  Government  has  promoted  Nutmeg  growers  into  FPOs enabling  aggregation  and  direct  marketing,  supporting  value  addition  and  linking  with export promotion agencies like Tamil Nadu Food Processing and Agri Export Promotion Corporation (TNAPEx) to identify international markets and facilitate export of nutmeg and its products.

Pollachi  Nutmeg  Farmer  Producer  Company  Ltd  (PNFPCL)  stands  as  a  major success  story  in  farmer-led  initiatives,  bolstered  by  expert  training  from  ICAR-IISR  in production technology, grading and quality assessment. By adopting ICAR-IISRrecommended  post-harvest  techniques,  the  FPO  has  successfully  branded  "Pollachi Nutmeg",  with  training  emphasizing  international  safety  standards  (free  from  aflatoxins), which is critical for high-value mace.

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