Kala zeera (Bunium persicum Bioss.): a Kashmirian high value crop

Kala zeera is a high value, low volume, and under-exploited spice crop that grows in mountainous regions of Kashmir in the Himalayas. It has received very little attention in terms of development, standardization of production technology, and plant protection management practices. Sher-e Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K) and other organizations have instituted programs for systematic improvement of Kala zeera. In this paper, we offer a synopsis of the latest work being done in promoting this high value crop, which would have a beneficial effect for the encouragement of economic activity in the Himalayas.