Spice

Nutmeg and Mace Farming in India 2026

One tree, two spices, a high value evergreen of the Western Ghats homesteads.

Overview

Nutmeg, Myristica fragrans, is special because a single fruit gives two spices: the inner seed is the nutmeg, and the bright red lacy covering around it is mace, called javitri. It is an evergreen tropical tree grown mainly in Kerala, especially along the Periyar belt, with smaller areas in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The trees are usually grown in mixed homestead gardens and plantations under partial shade. Nutmeg is naturally dioecious, meaning separate male and female trees, so a share of male trees is needed for pollination unless grafted female plants are used. The tree takes several years to start bearing but can then yield for decades, and a well managed nutmeg garden is among the more rewarding tree spice options for the Western Ghats. Both nutmeg and mace command good prices, and IISR has released improved high yielding lines for farmers.

Climate

Nutmeg needs a warm, humid tropical climate with temperatures roughly between 20 and 33 degrees Celsius and well distributed rainfall of about 1500 to 3000 millimetres, without a long dry season. It grows from near sea level up to around 1000 metres in suitable areas and needs partial shade, especially when young. It cannot tolerate frost, prolonged drought or strong dry winds.

Soil

Nutmeg grows best on deep, well drained, fertile loams and lateritic or alluvial soils rich in organic matter, with a slightly acidic pH of about 5.5 to 7. The roots are sensitive to waterlogging, so good drainage is essential. Rich red loams of the Western Ghats and the Periyar river belt suit it especially well.

Planting & Spacing

Nutmeg is grown from seedlings or, better, from grafts of known high yielding female trees, which start bearing earlier and avoid too many unproductive male trees. Plants are set in pits during the monsoon at spacing of about 8 to 9 metres, with shade for the young plants. If seedlings are used, a small share of male trees, roughly one in ten, is kept for pollination. Grafted female plants usually start bearing from around the fourth to fifth year.

Varieties

IISR has released improved high yielding nutmeg varieties such as IISR Viswasree, along with selections valued for heavy fruiting and good mace. Grafted plants of proven female mother trees are strongly preferred over random seedlings because they ensure female, high yielding trees and earlier bearing. Choosing certified grafts from reliable nurseries is one of the most important decisions for a nutmeg grower.

Care & Management

Young trees need shade, regular watering in dry months, mulching and protection from sun and wind. As trees grow, balanced organic and mineral nutrition and good drainage support steady fruiting. Light pruning of dead and crossing branches, weed control and maintenance of partial shade are routine. Where male and female trees are separate, keeping enough pollinator trees nearby is important for good fruit set.

Pests & Diseases

Nutmeg is fairly hardy but can suffer from fruit rot and die back caused by fungi in very wet conditions, leaf spot, and shoot or fruit drop. Scale insects and bark eating caterpillars sometimes attack the trees. Management relies on good drainage, removal and destruction of fallen rotten fruit, balanced shade, and integrated pest and disease practices rather than heavy chemical use.

Yield & Harvest

Fruits are harvested when they ripen and split open on the tree, showing the red mace around the brown seed, usually picked from the ground or with a harvesting pole. The mace is carefully peeled off, flattened and dried separately, while the nutmeg seed is dried until the kernel rattles inside its shell, which is then cracked off. A well managed mature tree can give a large number of fruits a year, and IISR high yielding lines have shown several thousand kilograms of dry nut and a few hundred kilograms of mace per hectare in research conditions, with field results varying by site.

Cost & Profit

Nutmeg and mace are both high value, and because mace fetches an even higher price than the nut, the two spices together make the tree quite profitable. Prices commonly run into several hundred rupees per kilogram for nutmeg and higher for good quality mace, varying with grade and market. Returns are slow to start because of the years to first bearing, but a mature garden gives strong long term income. Verify current prices in spice markets before planning.

These are indicative ranges. Actual cost and income vary by region, market and management, so verify locally.

Market & Demand

Nutmeg and mace are sold to spice traders, processors and exporters, with mace especially valued for its bright colour. Both are also used to extract essential oils and oleoresins, adding value options. Clean drying, careful separation of mace and good grading of the nut by size and soundness help farmers get better prices.

Subsidy & Support

Nutmeg can benefit from Spices Board and horticulture support for tree spices, including quality grafted planting material and processing assistance in eligible Western Ghats states. State horticulture missions in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka may assist with grafts and intercropping. Check current programmes and subsidy details with the Spices Board and your state department.

Where to grow it in India

Karnataka Kerala Tamil Nadu

BagalkoteKarnatakaBengaluru UrbanKarnatakaBengaluru RuralKarnatakaAlappuzhaKeralaErnakulamKeralaIdukkiKeralaAriyalurTamil NaduChengalpattuTamil NaduChennaiTamil Nadu

Frequently asked questions

How can one tree give both nutmeg and mace?

Inside the nutmeg fruit, the brown seed is the nutmeg and the bright red lacy net around that seed is the mace, called javitri. When the ripe fruit splits open you can see both. They are separated, dried and sold as two distinct spices, so a single fruit yields two products.

Why are male and female nutmeg trees important?

Nutmeg trees are usually separate male and female, and only female trees bear fruit. A few male trees are needed nearby to pollinate them. Many farmers now plant grafted female trees with a small share of males, which avoids wasting land on too many non bearing male seedlings.

When does nutmeg start bearing?

Grafted female nutmeg plants usually start bearing from around the fourth to fifth year, while seedling trees take longer, often seven to eight years, and you only know their sex once they flower. This is why grafted female plants are preferred for earlier, reliable yields.

Is mace or nutmeg more valuable?

Mace, the red javitri covering, usually fetches a higher price per kilogram than the nutmeg seed, though far less mace is produced per fruit. Together the two products make a nutmeg tree more profitable than a single spice crop of similar effort.

Can nutmeg be grown with other crops?

Yes. Nutmeg is commonly grown in mixed homestead gardens and plantations along with coconut, arecanut and fruit trees, which provide useful partial shade. This makes good use of the land, improves the microclimate and spreads the farmer's income across several crops.

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