Mace variety · Farmer-bred selection
KAU Puthara
Also known as Puthara, KAU Poothara
Vaikaprayar near Vakim, Kottayam district, Kerala · Joseph (farmer from FACT background); recognized and registered by Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) · 2018 (official KAU recognition and registration); Plant Genome Saviour Award (year not specified in available literature)
Produces unusually large, consistent nutmegs in huge bunches from single trees. Dried nutmeg weighs minimum 10g, selected specimens 16g. KAU recognition indicates official merit. Recipient of multiple awards including Sugandhsree Innovative Farmer Award (2019) and Best Spice Farmer (Innovation) Award from IISR (2024).
Key facts
| Type | Farmer-bred selection |
|---|---|
| Origin | Vaikaprayar near Vakim, Kottayam district, Kerala |
| Breeder / source | Joseph (farmer from FACT background); recognized and registered by Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) |
| Year released | 2018 (official KAU recognition and registration); Plant Genome Saviour Award (year not specified in available literature) |
| Parentage | Selection from elite local mother trees; observed by KAU scientists 2010–2015 |
| Yield | Dried nut weight: minimum 10g, selected specimens up to 16g per nut; prolific bunching habit noted |
| Tolerance | Suited to Kottayam's conditions; pest/disease tolerance not detailed in available literature |
| Distinctive features | Exceptionally heavy nuts with large kernel. Produces nutmeg in distinctive large bunches. Plant Genome Saviour Award recipient. Awarded Sugandhsree Award and recognized by IISR as leading innovator farmer. |
| Grown in | Kottayam, and likely nearby Ernakulam and Idukki districts, Kerala |
| Also known as | Puthara, KAU Poothara |
Figures are indicative, compiled from public agricultural sources (ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, the Spices Board and the National Innovation Foundation) and vary with soil, season and management. Confirm with your local package of practices.
KAU Puthara in detail
A farmer-bred nutmeg selection from Kottayam's low-range lands that competes with high-altitude estate nutmeg: KAU Puthara produces unusually large, consistent nuts in heavy bunches from a single plant, even at low elevation.
Origin & story
Joseph, a retired FACT employee who farmed for 28 years in Vaikaprayar near Vaikom, Kottayam, developed this variety through patient observation. He showed his nutmeg trees to KAU experts around 2010, and a research team led by Dr Mini Raj marked two exceptional trees for study, observing them continuously for five years. KAU recognised the variety as KAU Puthara in 2018. It is one of only five nutmeg varieties to receive this KAU certification, selected from 53 observed across Kerala.
How it grows
Grows in Kottayam's low-range lands and still competes with premium nutmeg from high-range areas like Idukki. Buds yield fruit within one year of planting. A 15-year-old tree can yield up to 2,000 fruits (about 20 kg dried nutmeg) and 4.2 kg dried mace annually. Nutmegs form in large bunches of 90-100 fruits, each bunch weighing roughly one kilogram.
Quality & character
Dried nutmegs weigh at least 10g, with superior selections reaching 16g. Fresh mace pieces reach up to 4g; the university estimates dried mace at about 2.1g per piece. The heavy kernel and thick mace arils distinguish the type. First-grade mace from the variety sold for ₹2,750/kg.
Why it matters to buyers
The consistent large size and weight ease grading and support premium positioning. Achieving competitive yields in lower-altitude terrain opens cultivation to farmers outside the hill stations. Buyers can identify the variety by its KAU certification, which signals university-recognised genetics.
About mace
Mace—the lacy, crimson-to-gold aril wrapped around the nutmeg seed—comes from the same tree as nutmeg and matures in India where Kerala's humid coastal belt has cultivated it for centuries. Below are the principal Indian varieties and botanical types: released cultivars from ICAR institutes, farmer-bred selections gaining official recognition, and regional…
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