Nutmeg and Mace Production in Pachi, India

Nutmeg and mace are expensive spices due to their fragile nature and susceptibility to fungus and pests. However, farmers in Pachi, India, have found a way to capitalize on these valuable spices by harvesting a special hybrid variety, allowing them to sell mace for $50 per kilogram, compared to $35 in other cities and $9 in the US.

Cultivation and Harvesting

Nutmeg needs good rain to grow, and dry mornings are ideal for picking. The nutmeg and mace grow together inside a yellow fruit and must be harvested before they gather mold, making daily checks necessary, especially during the rainy season. Pickers, including women like Gila, use aluminum and bamboo poles to reach high trees, which can cause neck and shoulder pain. They also face the stressor of red ants, also known as fire ants, which nest in the trees and can fall on them.

Post-Harvest Processing

After harvesting, women remove the outer shell of the fruit, clean and sell the shells, and then separate the good fruits from the rotten ones. The good fruits are soaked in water, and after soaking, the mace covering shrinks and becomes looser, allowing for separation from the nutmeg. This process is time-consuming and delicate, taking around 4 hours to pluck the mace and nutmeg from 100 fruits.

Drying and Storage

Nutmeg and mace are dried in the open sun, but intense heat can cause the nut to crack, so they are moved to the shade after a day. Some farmers use ovens, but others prefer gentler conditions to preserve the structure and aroma. The dried spices are stored in separate drums to remain in good condition for over a year.

Quality and Pricing

The quality and price of nutmeg and mace vary, with East Indian varieties being more costly due to their higher oil content and stronger aroma and flavor. High-quality mace is free from molds, has a good aroma, and costs around 480 rupees per kilo, while those from Kerala cost 320 rupees.

Pachi Cooperative

Local farmers, including Ranjit, formed a cooperative to grow and sell their nutmeg and mace, increasing their control over the process and profits. The Pachi Cooperative has improved the quality of life for farmers and workers by selling products like mace and nutmeg to international buyers at higher rates, such as 3,200 rupees per kilo to an Australian buyer. Some of the key benefits of the cooperative include:

Increased control over the production and sale of nutmeg and mace
Higher profits for farmers and workers
Development of a renowned variety of planting material known as the Pachi variety
Cultivation of around 500 acres of nutmeg and mace

Best Practices

Ranjit’s profit comes from mace, which is five times more profitable than nutmeg. His farming techniques, including a hybrid variety that makes the fruit larger and thicker, and intercropping to improve water retention, have contributed to his success. Nutmeg trees also benefit from being intercropped with coconut plants, which provide the right amount of shade.

Key Vocabulary

Term	Definition	Example Usage
Nutmeg	A valuable spice obtained from the seed of the nutmeg tree, often used in cooking and baking.	The recipe called for a pinch of nutmeg to add flavor to the dessert.
Mace	The dried, outer covering of the nutmeg seed, used as a spice and valued for its aroma and flavor.	The chef used mace to add a unique flavor to the sauce.
Hybrid Variety	A type of plant or crop that is bred from two different parent plants to produce desirable traits, such as increased size or disease resistance.	The farmer planted a hybrid variety of nutmeg tree that was resistant to disease and produced larger fruit.
Intercropping	The practice of growing two or more crops together on the same land, often to improve soil health, reduce pests and diseases, and increase biodiversity.	The farmer used intercropping to grow nutmeg trees alongside coconut plants, which provided shade and improved soil health.
Cooperative	A business or organization owned and controlled by its members, often formed to provide mutual benefit and support.	The local farmers formed a cooperative to sell their nutmeg and mace products and increase their profits.
Pest	An animal or insect that damages or destroys crops, often requiring control measures to prevent economic loss.	The farmer used organic methods to control pests that were damaging the nutmeg trees.
Fungus	A type of microorganism that can cause disease in plants, often requiring control measures to prevent economic loss.	The farmer used fungicides to control the fungus that was infecting the nutmeg trees.
Fire Ants	A type of ant that is known for its painful sting, often found in warm and humid climates.	The pickers had to be careful to avoid the fire ants that were nesting in the nutmeg trees.
Post-Harvest Processing	The steps taken after harvesting a crop to prepare it for sale or consumption, often including cleaning, sorting, and packaging.	The women were responsible for post-harvest processing of the nutmeg and mace, including removing the outer shell and separating the good fruits from the rotten ones.
Drying	The process of removing moisture from a crop to preserve it for storage or sale.	The nutmeg and mace were dried in the open sun to preserve them for storage and sale.

Watch The Video

How Farmers In One Indian Village Crafted The Most Expensive Nutmeg and Mace | So Expensive

Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘a living thing, such as an insect or animal, that damages plants or crops’?

A) Fungus
B) Pests
C) Harvest
D) Cooperative

2. What does ‘susceptibility’ mean in the context of nutmeg and mace production?

A) The ability to grow in any condition
B) The ability to resist disease or damage
C) The state of being easily affected by something, such as fungus or pests
D) The process of harvesting spices

3. What is the term for the process of removing the outer shell of the fruit after harvesting?

A) Post-Harvest Processing
B) Cultivation
C) Drying and Storage
D) Shelling

4. Which word means ‘a person who buys and sells goods, especially in large quantities’?

A) Farmer
B) Picker
C) Buyer
D) Cooperative

5. What does ‘intercropping’ mean in the context of farming?

A) The act of cutting down trees to make space for other plants
B) The practice of growing two or more crops together on the same land
C) The process of drying spices in the sun
D) The method of storing spices in separate drums

Answer Key:

1. B
2. C
3. A
4. C
5. B

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: Use of the Present Simple and Present Continuous Tenses to Describe Habits, Routines, and Ongoing Actions

The present simple and present continuous tenses are used to describe habits, routines, and ongoing actions in the given text. The present simple tense is used to describe general truths, habits, and routines, such as “Nutmeg needs good rain to grow” and “Pickers use aluminum and bamboo poles to reach high trees.” On the other hand, the present continuous tense is used to describe ongoing actions, such as “farmers in Pachi, India, have found a way to capitalize on these valuable spices” and “women remove the outer shell of the fruit.” The correct use of these tenses is essential to convey the intended meaning and to provide a clear description of the processes involved in nutmeg and mace production. For example, “Nutmeg and mace grow together inside a yellow fruit” (present simple) describes a general fact, while “pickers are using aluminum and bamboo poles” (present continuous) would describe an ongoing action. Understanding the difference between these two tenses is crucial for effective communication.

Grammar Quiz:

1. Which of the following sentences uses the present simple tense to describe a general truth about nutmeg production?

Nutmeg is growing in Pachi, India, due to the favorable climate.
Nutmeg needs good rain to grow.
Nutmeg has been grown in Pachi, India, for many years.
Nutmeg is being harvested by farmers in Pachi, India.

2. Which sentence uses the present continuous tense to describe an ongoing action in the context of nutmeg and mace production?

Women are removing the outer shell of the fruit.
Women remove the outer shell of the fruit.
Women have removed the outer shell of the fruit.
Women will remove the outer shell of the fruit.

3. Which of the following sentences uses the present simple tense to describe a routine or habit of pickers in Pachi, India?

Pickers are using aluminum and bamboo poles to reach high trees.
Pickers use aluminum and bamboo poles to reach high trees.
Pickers have used aluminum and bamboo poles to reach high trees.
Pickers will use aluminum and bamboo poles to reach high trees.

4. Which sentence uses the present continuous tense to describe an ongoing action related to the Pachi Cooperative?

The Pachi Cooperative is selling products like mace and nutmeg to international buyers.
The Pachi Cooperative sells products like mace and nutmeg to international buyers.
The Pachi Cooperative has sold products like mace and nutmeg to international buyers.
The Pachi Cooperative will sell products like mace and nutmeg to international buyers.

5. Which of the following sentences uses the present simple tense to describe a general fact about the quality of nutmeg and mace?

High-quality mace is being free from molds and has a good aroma.
High-quality mace is free from molds and has a good aroma.
High-quality mace has been free from molds and has had a good aroma.
High-quality mace will be free from molds and will have a good aroma.

Answer Key:

1. b) Nutmeg needs good rain to grow.

2. a) Women are removing the outer shell of the fruit.

3. b) Pickers use aluminum and bamboo poles to reach high trees.

4. a) The Pachi Cooperative is selling products like mace and nutmeg to international buyers.

5. b) High-quality mace is free from molds and has a good aroma.