Indian spices need more diversification, climate suitable for cultivation of star anise

India is the world’s largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices should need more diversification by introducing new advanced farming techniques like kicking off cultivation of high priced star anise have high demand in the markets as country climate suitable for its cultivation.

Dr Vikram Sharma, Scientist and former Director Coffee Board of India told us that India import the star anise from Vietnam and China about 20 percent of its production could diversify the Indian Spices farming by promoting its cultivation in the country.

He said that country produces about 75 of the 109 varieties spices and accounts for half of the global trading could revolutionize its trade after promoting its cultivation as agro climatic conditions in the state of Himachal, Arunachal, Uttrakhand and Jammu and Kashmir is highly suitable for its continuation.

” After research on the star anise OR chakri phool, his study proved that its commercial production in the country not only possible but much easier. He said that chakri phool is a spice known throughout the world by the name of ‘Badian & or ‘Star Anise:, has been already selected for commercial production in the country after successful research, keeping in view the environmental selection and geographical conditions.

I have prepared a drafted research work on an integrated agricultural horticulture projects, through which farmer would have a constant source of income as this cash crop would be marketed round they year and farmers need not to bother for the market, he said.

The market research on this spice along with the cultivation of nut fruit crops could create an viable option for distressed farmers as the star anises is mainly imported from outside the country. “The Figures shows that India import worth Rs 900 Crore star anises every year for domestic consumption which is about 20 per cent of its world production.” he claimed.
Indian Trades figures indicates that last years India imported about 19.85 per cent share of star anise production which is equal to tune of 52.05 million US dollar. Dr Vikram Sharma informed that this spice is mainly found in China, Vietnam and Japan, China trades it on a very large scale to India and other south east nation.

Terming it a win -win situation for the farmers as well as to balance the Indian trade in favor of country Dr Vikaram Sharma said that promotion of star anise production in the country not only cut size the reliance of 100 percent imports but it also save the foreign capital to increase the income of farmers which is in dire need of the hour.

This could add new avenues to increase the additional source of income to farmers moreover it would help to attract the youth who are swaying away from the farming as it may be mantra of state-of-the-art economic self-reliance.
The individual works done by Dr Sharma claimed that he had completed entire research on the production of this commercial spice plant with respect to various agro climatic zones of Himachal and other North Western and North eastern Himalayan states.

He said that currently its production in the country is almost negligible. It could be a good alternate cash crop to the farmers who could store it in their granary or market it when they are in dire need keeping the market demands and supply of the spices.

Exploring the economic value of this spice he said that Badian is not just ordinary spice moreover it has great medicinal uses mainly in the traditional path like Ayurvedic, homeopathic and also in allopathic systems of medicine. Many cosmetics are also made from its fruit. Apart from Indian cuisine, the spice of this star anise is also used in European and other continental regions.

He said that plant seems to be have native in origin as some wild species of star anise were found in the Indian state of Arunachal and Kashmir regions of Jammu and Kashmir however till date its commercial production has not been started in the country as its plants found in the Arunachal and Kashmir region could not be domesticated yet to use it for commercial farming.

Rejecting the claims being made by the few agriculture experts that its production is not feasible in India, other than Arunachal, he said that it is completely wrong. He found during his research that it could be disseminated in the central regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand and North-East India where it could be commercially produced .

Stressing to encourage the farmers to start it on the pilot project based as startups venture he said that due to different agro climatic regions in the country it is highly suitable to be produced in sub temperate zone it require cold and heat for best production.

He said that his research or mission to promote new crop and diversity the agriculture productions would help the save foreign exchange worth Rs 1000 Cr and the stop the brain drain in the country. Dr. Vikram research not only confined to star anise however he is pioneer to developed the technique and logistic tool along with material support for cultivation of high value Cinnamon, Avocado, Pistachio and Coffee farming under Integrated Agricultural-Horticulture structure.

He is unsung hero of asafoetida research in the country done by him 2015, which is progressing as a mission today, in which the country’s leading research organization DRDO is working exclusively for asafetida at the research center in Leh by taking his assistance 2001 Dr. Vikram had completed the successful research of coffee plantations in the state of Himachal still providing assistance to the farmers and youths for its commercial cultivation.

“The arable land is becoming barren due to lack of interests of youth and young generations in the current practices of farming and increasing menace of astray and wild animals need to modernized by declaring agriculture as an industry.” he argued.

The youth who are innovative and wanted to develop new farming techniques like farming of star anise to cope up with agriculture challenges and producing or producing bulk of produces by such innovation should be encourage on the line of industries beside motivating their talents, he added.