Tamarind monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

Preface
For the past six years the International Centre for Underutilised Crops has
been disseminating information on production, utilisation, processing and
marketing of a series of high priority underutilised tropical fruits. In this
endeavour ICUC has been generously supported by the Department for
International Development (DFID) of the UK. The project has been entitled
‘Fruits for the Future’.
For each fruit a monograph has been issued as well as a manual aimed at the
implementation of production at the farmer level.
The first monograph in a series was on tamarind authored by Prof. H.P.M.
Gunasena of Sri Lanka and Miss A. Hughes of ICUC. The preparation of the
monograph drew upon the expertise of a wide range of scientists in all parts
of the world and resulted in a publication in 2000 which ICUC made
available to all those with an interest in the culture and utilisation of
tamarind.
The monograph was exceedingly well received judging from its recipients’
responses and ICUC was continually asked for more information.
It soon became apparent that interest in this particular underutilised fruit
species was accelerating and the research expanding. For these reasons it
was agreed that a revised monograph should be issued as Fruits for the
Future Monograph 1 to supersede the original.
We would like to thank all contributors of the revised edition and it is hoped
that this current revised monograph will be even more useful for teachers,
students, extensionists, policy makers, fruit tree growers and traders so that
they may become instrumental in promoting the enhanced production,
processing and marketing of tamarind.
Editors
2006
x