Punnathanam – Jathy An Improved Nutmeg Variety

Name : Varkey Thommanvarkey-thomman

District & State :  Idukki, Kerala

Category : Agricultural (General)

Award :   National

Award Function :   8th National Grassroots Innovation Awards

Award Year : 2015

Innovator Profile

Innovation Description


Scout: Peermade Development Society

Varkey Thomman (76), a progressive farmer from Idukki district has developed an extra-large nutmeg variety called Punnathanam Jathy through selection from a local variety.

varkey-thomman-innBackground

The youngest among seven siblings, Varkey grew up in an agricultural environment and studied till class seven in Kottayam district. Their family migrated to Idukki when he was about 14. The place they shifted to was a forest, with no roads, electricity or other basic facilities. Sometime in 1970s they got the legal rights to their lands by the government. Varkey had to start work at an early age, helping his father and other siblings. They cleared an area of forest for cultivation and started with banana, tapioca and (non-flooding) paddy cultivation. Couple of years later, they shifted from paddy to areca nut, coconut, black pepper etc. At that time, they were one of the first farmers cultivating the Karimunda variety of black pepper at a large scale (approximately 4000 plants). Nutmeg cultivation was started with some 4-5 saplings brought from their native place. Once the yield got better, more area was brought under nutmeg cultivation. Initially, kernels were used for propagation to selectively develop improved varieties of nutmeg. With some experience, Varkey became independent farmer about 1960, got married and settled. Other siblings also settled nearby.

Genesis

About twenty years ago, Varkey Thomman developed the Punnathanam nutmeg variety from the local varieties he brought to Idukki from his grandfather’s farm in their native place. This was achieved through years of observation and experiments. He developed the improved variety through several rounds of propagation through nutmeg kernels. At present he has about 120-125 plants of fruiting period.

http://nif.org.in/innovation/punnathanam-jathy-improved-nutmeg-variety/799

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