272 Handbook of herbs and spices
Average annual world production of caraway oil ranges from 30–40 t, with a total
value of more than $1 million. Holland is one of the major producers and exporters
of caraway essential oil. For many years Holland has been the world’s principal
supplier of caraway seed and oil, but now the Netherlands has attained supreme
position in the global market. The international price of oil varies from 2000 Rupees
(Rs) to Rs. 2500 per kg so it is a minor item in the export and import of oil in India.
Approximately 200 kg of caraway oil, worth Rs. 0.01–0.02 million and caraway seed
200 tonnes, worth Rs.3.5 million are imported annually from India (Shiva et al.,
2002 ). Around 30 t of essential oil of caraway is traded yearly in the world, the fifth
largest amount amongst Apiaceace species. The world production of seeds may be
assumed reach to around 15 thousand tonnes. Production, however, is rather variable
and fluctuates from year to year both in quantities and in prices.
Production of caraway seed is significant in northern Europe, especially the
Netherlands, and in Canada, the USA, Scandinavia, Russia and Germany. The tuberous
roots of caraway are edible and somewhat popular especially among the inhabitants
of higher hills in India and China, and further extending to the Caucasus, Persia,
Tibet and Siberia. The major producers of winter-type caraway are the Netherlands,
Poland, Hungary and Russia; the spring type is produced mainly by Syria, Morocco,
Egypt and Western India.
15.2 Cultivation.......................................................................................
15.2.1 Climate
Caraway crop requires a dry temperate climate and thrives well in tilled soils, rich in
humus at an elevation of 3000–4000 m. Caraway is basically a biennial but usually
treated as an annual from crop production techniques. It grows as an annual at lower
altitudes and as a biennial in higher altitudes up to 4000 m above sea level. It prefers
a lot of sunshine and low temperatures (16/20 ∞C) for flowering and seed setting of
biennial types (winter types), whereas annual types of caraway require more heat for
seed production (Svab, 1992). High fruit yield of caraway requires plenty of sunshine
especially in the first year of growth and also during the flowering stage. Low light
levels will delay and decrease the fruit production (Bouwmeester et al., 1995). The
biennial types require a period of about eight weeks of temperature below 10 ∞C to
induce flowering, whereas annual types attain flowering during long days (10 hours
or more), the higher the temperature, the quicker flowering develops. Annual caraway
thrives in the cool short days of the Eastern Mediterranean winter and in the Indian
plains (Arganosa et al., 1998). A cold temperature (8/5 ∞C, day/night) for seven
weeks was best for achieving 100% flowering in biennial type caraway plants in
Hungary (Nemeth et al., 1998). Commercial crops of caraway are usually located in
moderate to high rainfall areas of the temperate region up to 1500 mm annually.
Caraway can withstand frost after sowing in autumn. In general, light intensity is
more important than day length and long periods of cloudy weather or shading from
other crops at flowering substantially reduces seed yield (Putievsky, 1983). In warmer
regions, caraway is grown at higher elevations i.e. near 3000 m in Kashmir, India.
15.2.2 Soil
Caraway grows in a variety of soils but yields best on deep and warm soils rich in