KAU’s Farmer-Participatory Nutmeg Varieties: A Landmark in Indian Agricultural Innovation

ഇന്ത്യയിൽത്തന്നെ ആദ്യമായാണ് കർഷക പങ്കാളിത്തത്തോടെ ഒരു ഗവേഷണപദ്ധതിയിൽനിന്ന് ഒരു വിളയുടെ വിളപ്പൊലിമയുള്ള ഇനങ്ങൾ പുറത്തിറക്കുന്നതത്രെ.

കർഷക പങ്കാളിത്തത്തോടെയുള്ള കാർഷിക സർവകലാശാല ജാതി ഇനങ്ങളായി താഴെപ്പറയുന്ന പേരുകളിലാണ് പുറത്തിറക്കിയത്.

ഇനങ്ങൾ കണ്ടെത്തിയ കർഷകരുടെ പേര് ബ്രാക്കറ്റിൽ.

1. കെഎയു പുല്ലൻ (ജോസ് പുല്ലൻ, ചാലക്കുടി)

2. കെഎയു കൊച്ചുകുടി (ജോസ് കൊച്ചുകുടിയിൽ കലൂർക്കാട്) 2. കെഎയു

3. കെഎയു പുന്നത്താനം (വർക്കി, പുന്നത്താനം, മുനിയറ)

4. മുണ്ടത്താനം (മൈക്കൾ ജോസഫ് മുണ്ടത്താനം ചാലക്കുടി)

5. കെഎയു പുത്തറ (ജോസഫ് പുത്തറ, വൈഗപ്രയാർ)

കർഷക പങ്കാളിത്തത്തോടെ ഈ ഇനങ്ങളുടെ ബഡ് തൈകളുണ്ടാക്കാനും സർവകലാശാല തയ്യാറായി. ഇവയുടെ ഗുണമേന്മയുള്ള ബഡ്‌തൈകൾ കാർഷിക സർവകലാശാലയുടെ വെള്ളാനിക്കര ക്യാംപസിലെ സുഗന്ധവിള നഴ്‌സറിയിലും മേൽപറഞ്ഞ കർഷകരുടെ നഴ്‌സറികളിലും ലഭ്യമാണ്.

Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has set a pioneering example in Indian horticulture by developing and releasing a set of superior nutmeg varieties through a truly farmer-participatory approach. These varieties, identified from elite mother trees nurtured by experienced farmers across Kerala, represent a unique fusion of farmers’ field wisdom and rigorous scientific evaluation. Each selected genotype has been registered with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA), ensuring that the farmers who discovered these exceptional trees receive full and formal recognition for their contribution.

The Five Farmer–Participatory KAU Varieties

Each variety carries both the KAU identity and the name of the farmer who identified the superior mother tree:

	KAU Pullan	Jose Pullan, Chalakudy
	KAU Kochukudy	Jose Kochukudy, Kalurkad
	KAU Punnathanam	Varkey, Punnathanam, Muniyara)
	KAU Mundathanam	Michael Joseph Mundathanam, Chalakudy
	KAU Puthara	Joseph Puthara, Vaikaprayar

KAU has also initiated the production of high-quality budded saplings of these varieties in partnership with the same farmers. These saplings will be available both at the Aromatic Plants Nursery at the KAU Vellanikkara campus and at the nurseries managed by the respective farmer collaborators.

Why This Initiative Is Revolutionary

Nutmeg is a dioecious species, meaning male and female trees occur separately. Because of this, and because nutmeg exhibits large variability in fruit colour, size, weight, kernel characters, mace quality, and oil content, identifying a superior mother tree is exceptionally challenging. Even when such elite trees are found, seed propagation cannot guarantee true-to-type offspring, making genetic conservation and varietal development complex.

Developing stable, high-performing nutmeg varieties thus demands rigorous scientific evaluation - something rarely achieved in this crop due to biological constraints.

This is where KAU’s initiative becomes truly path-breaking.

How the Elite Trees Were Identified

With financial support from the National Horticulture Mission, KAU launched a systematic research programme to identify superior nutmeg genotypes from farmers’ fields across Kerala. The process involved:

1. Extensive field visits and farmer consultations

Researchers travelled across the state, listening to farmers and noting trees consistently admired for productivity and performance.

2. Selection of 53 promising female trees

These trees were marked based on yield, fruiting behaviour, and farmer feedback.

3. Detailed multi-year scientific evaluation

Each selected tree was observed and recorded for:

• Growth habit

• Flowering pattern

• Fruit, mace, and kernel characteristics

• Weight of fruit, pericarp, mace, and nut

• Quality of nutmeg oil, oleoresin, and butter

• Disease and pest tolerance

4. Final selection of five superior varieties

After thorough analysis, five outstanding genotypes were chosen for their yield, quality, and resilience.

Each was then registered with PPVFRA under the farmers' names—an exemplary model of recognising farmer innovation and intellectual contribution.

A New Model for Agricultural Research in India

This programme marks the first time in India that a university has released a crop variety jointly with farmers as co-developers under a formal research project. It sets a pioneering example of:

• Respecting traditional knowledge

• Valuing farmers as research partners

• Ensuring benefit-sharing by naming varieties after farmers

• Promoting decentralised innovation in plantation crops

By bridging scientific rigour with farmers’ field expertise, KAU has established a new paradigm for varietal development—one that is participatory, inclusive, and socially just.

Availability of Planting Material

Quality budded saplings of the five varieties are available at:

• KAU Aromatic Plants Nursery, Vellanikkara Campus

• Nurseries of the respective farmer collaborators

This ensures authenticity, traceability, and access to planting material with proven performance.

Conclusion

The release of these five farmer-participatory nutmeg varieties is more than a scientific achievement - it is a celebration of farmer wisdom, institutional innovation, and collaborative research. By placing farmers at the heart of varietal development, KAU has demonstrated how science becomes stronger when it listens to the field.