Konkan Sugandha
Released by Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth (BSKKV), Dapoli, Maharashtra. The only hermaphrodite nutmeg variety in India — every tree bears fruit without needing a separate male tree. This eliminates the biggest risk of nutmeg farming: the dioecious gamble.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Nutmeg (Jaiphal)
- Type
- Grafted plant (improved variety — hermaphrodite)
- Season
- All seasons
- Maturity period
- First harvest about year 6–7
- Seed rate
- About 50–60 grafted plants per acre at 8 × 8 m spacing; no separate male tree needed
- Expected yield
- About 2.63 kg dry seeds per tree at age 15
- Suitable soil
- Deep, well-drained clay loam, laterite or forest soil
- Release
- Dr BSKKV, Dapoli, Maharashtra — hermaphrodite selection
About this variety
Konkan Sugandha is the only hermaphrodite nutmeg variety released in India, developed by Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth (BSKKV), Dapoli, Maharashtra. This is a breakthrough variety because it eliminates the defining risk of nutmeg farming: in a normal nutmeg garden, trees are either male or female (dioecious) and there is no way to tell which is which until they flower four to six years after planting — roughly half of seedling-raised trees may turn out to be males that never bear fruit. With Konkan Sugandha, every tree is hermaphrodite (has both male and female flowers), so every planted tree will eventually bear fruit without needing a separate male pollinator. At 15 years, trees produced about 526 fruits (2.63 kg dry seed) per tree. While its yield figures are lower than those of IISR Keralashree, its self-fertile character makes it uniquely valuable for small holdings, mixed gardens and situations where maintaining a separate male pollinator tree is impractical.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeRainy season (June–December); shade plants established 6–12 months earlier
- Seed rateAbout 50–60 grafted plants per acre at 8 × 8 m spacing; no separate male tree needed
- SpacingAbout 8 × 8 m
- Sowing methodOne grafted plant per prepared pit (60 × 60 × 60 cm), filled with topsoil and cattle manure, then shaded and watered in
- IrrigationEvery 5–7 days in summer; drip or basin irrigation
- FertilizerYoung tree: 20:20:60 g N:P₂O₅:K₂O + 15 kg FYM/year; bearing tree: about 300:300:960 g + 50 kg FYM (TNAU schedule)
- HarvestingFruits picked when outer husk splits; mace peeled and dried, nut dried in shell then shelled and graded
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Deep, well-drained clay loam, laterite or forest soil
- Irrigation
- Free drainage essential; waterlogging harmful
Climate
- Maturity
- About 20–30°C mean
- Irrigation
- About 1,500–2,500 mm a year, well distributed
- Climate
- Warm, humid tropical; partial shade for young plants. The Konkan coast and Western Ghats belt are ideal.
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
First harvest about year 6–7
Expected yield
About 2.63 kg dry seeds per tree at age 15
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major pests
- Loranthus (parasitic plant)
Management notes
- Choose a sheltered, well-drained site with assured water for the dry months.
- Establish shade 6–12 months before planting.
- No need to maintain male trees — every tree is hermaphrodite and self-fertile.
- Prune overlapping branches for air circulation.
- Remove and destroy fallen rotten fruit promptly.
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Only hermaphrodite nutmeg variety in India — every tree bears fruit
- No male pollinator tree needed, so every planted tree is productive
- Ideal for small holdings and mixed gardens where space for a male tree is limited
- Eliminates the 4–6 year wait to discover that a seedling is male
Things to consider
- Lower documented yield than IISR Keralashree — about 2.63 kg dry seed per tree at age 15 vs Keralashree's higher per-tree numbers
- Disease resistance not specifically documented
- Available mainly from BSKKV Dapoli — check availability ahead of planting season
- Less field data available compared to the older IISR varieties
Suitable regions
Released from Dapoli, Maharashtra (Konkan coast). Suitable for all warm, humid nutmeg-growing areas including Kerala, coastal Karnataka and Goa.
- Maharashtra
- Kerala
- Karnataka
- Goa
Frequently asked questions
Why is a hermaphrodite nutmeg variety so important?
Nutmeg is dioecious — trees are either male or female, and you cannot tell which is which until they flower (4–6 years). In a seedling garden, roughly half the trees may be males that never fruit. A hermaphrodite variety like Konkan Sugandha has both male and female flowers on every tree, so every planted tree will eventually bear fruit. No waiting, no guessing, no wasted years on male trees.
Where can I get Konkan Sugandha grafts?
From Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth (BSKKV), Dapoli, Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. Contact them well before the planting season as hermaphrodite grafts are in high demand. Some state horticulture nurseries in Maharashtra may also stock them.
Sourced from: Dr BSKKV Dapoli — Spice crops research, TNAU Agritech Portal — Nutmeg, Spices Board India — Nutmeg. editorial policy.