Underexploited Spice Crops: Present Status, Agrotechnology, and Future Research Directions

Spices provide our food with nutraceutical value rather than actual nutrition. But apart from the popular and major spices, there are several other spices, which, in spite of their enormous contribution to human health, remain underexploited or underutilized. This new volume, Underexploited Spice Crops: Present Status, Agrotechnology, and Future Research Directions, is a valuable compilation of agrotechniques coupled with background information, research works, and scientific discussions on these spices. It will include in-depth narration on underexploited spice crops as products in influencing present-day the global export market and the renewed interest in these crops throughout the world.

The volume deals with the scientific approach of growing underexploited spices with the intention of popularizing them. Separate chapters on the importance of each spice, methods of growing and harvesting, and recent research from around the world along with future strategies are covered.

A. B. Sharangi, PhD, is Professor in Horticultural Science and Head of the Department of Spices and Plantation Crops in the Faculty of Horticulture at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (Agricultural University), India. He has been teaching for twenty years and was instrumental in the process of coconut improvement leading to the release of a variety Kalpa Mitra from the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute. He spent time at several laboratories around the world, including the laboratories of Professor Cousen in Melbourne, Australia; Professor Picha in the USA; and Dr. Dobson in the UK. He has published about 65 research papers in peer-reviewed journals, 60 conference papers, and 16 books with reputed publishers including Springer Nature. He has also published chapters in books published from Springer, CRC Press, Nova Science Publishers, and others. One of his papers was ranked among the top 25 articles in ScienceDirect. Presently he is associated with 40 international and national journals in a variety of roles, including editor-in-chief, regional editor, technical editor, editorial board member, and reviewer. Professor Sharangi has visited abroad extensively on academic missions and has received several international awards, such as the Endeavour Postdoctoral Award (Australia), INSA-RSE (Indian National Science Academy) Visiting Scientist Fellowship (UK), Fulbright Visiting Faculty Fellowship (USA), Achiever’s Award (Society for Advancement of Human and Nature, Man of the Year—2015 (Cambridge, UK), Outstanding Scientist (Venus International Foundation), etc. He has delivered invited lectures in the UK, USA, Australia, Thailand, Israel, and Bangladesh on several aspects of herbs and spices. Professor Sharangi is associated with a number of research projects as Principal and Co-Principal Investigator. He is an elected Fellow of the WB Academy of Science and Technology (WAST) and a Fellow of the International Society for Research and Development (ISRD, UK), the Society for Applied Biotechnology (SAB), International Scientific Research Organisation for Science, Engineering and Technology (ISROSET), Academy of Environment and Life Sciences (AELS), and the Scientific Society of Advanced Research and Social Change (SSARSC). He is an active member of many other science academies and societies, including the New York Academy of Science (NYAS), World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (WASET), African Forest Forum (AFF), Association for Tropical Biology & Conservation (ATBC, USA) to name a few.

Pemba Hissay Bhutia is pursuing his PhD in Horticulture (spices and plantation crops) at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal, India. He has qualified for the ICAR-NET examination in spices, plantation, and medicinal and aromatic plants in 2015. He completed his postgraduate studies in spices and plantation crops from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, India.

Akkabathula Chandini Raj is presently continuing her PhD program at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal, India. She has been awarded a Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for her research work and has qualified for the ICAR-NET (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) in spices and plantation crops in 2015 and is one among the ten students who appeared for ARS Viva-voce of Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) in the same year. She earned her postgraduate degree in spices and plantation crops.

Majjiga Sreenivas is now pursuing a PhD in spices and plantation crops at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal, India, and is engaged as a Senior Research Fellow on a project associated with his research. He qualified for ICAR-NET (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) in spices, plantation, medicinal, and aromatic plants in 2015. He completed his postgraduate program at the Horticulture College and Research Institute, Venkataramannagudem, India, in plantation spices medicinal and aromatic crops.