Tamarind monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

Tamarind in India is mainly produced in the States of Maharashtra,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Uttara Pradesh.
The crop from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh arrives in the market in
January, that from Maharashtra arrives in February and from Madhya
Pradesh and Uttara Pradesh at the end of February.
Sour types of tamarind comprise about 95% of total world production. India
is the major sour tamarind producer in Asia. Its annual production is about
300,000 tonnes. About 20,000 tonnes of TKP is also produced annually in
India, but this could be doubled through improved post harvest and
processing techniques. Annual returns from tamarind seed powder are
estimated at Rs 16 -17 million.
Thailand is the second largest producer of tamarind in Asia of which 30% is
the sweet type. This is gaining status as a small-scale plantation crop.
Thailand also produces the sour type of tamarind and although the sour type
dominates the sweet type is receiving more demand. Sweet tamarind is
grown on a commercial scale for export both in the fresh and processed
forms. There is good demand for it as a dried fruit, which is packed into
boxes weighing 10-15 kgs and sold in open markets in Thailand. The fresh
pods are also valued and large sweet pods are highly priced, particularly
during the off season (Yaacob and Subhadrabandhu, 1995). During the
1990s the tamarind trade expanded with production in 1995 at 140,000
tonnes (Figure 10.1). The ratio of non-bearing area to total production
suggests that production is already expanding.
Tons
150000
100000
50000
0
1985
Tamarind - THAILAND.
Production, 1985-95
1987
1989
1991
118
1993
1995
Figure 10.1 Tamarind production in Thailand
(Source: Vinning and Moody, 1997)
Production
Sri Lanka and Indonesia are also large tamarind producers in Asia, and in
South America Brazil and Venezuela are sizeable producers. Unfortunately