(i) Botanical name: Jasminum grandi florum
(ii) Family: Oleaceae
(iii) Jasmine, as a floral perfume, ranks next to the rose oil.
(iv) Major species cultivated on the commercial scale is Jasminum grandi florum, a native of the north-western Himalayas.
(v) In Tamil Nadu, the major jasmine cultivation centres are Madurai and Thovalai of Kanyakumari District.
(vi) The essential oil is present in the epidermal cells of the inner and outer surfaces of both the sepals and petals.
(vii) One ton of Jasmine blossom yields about 2.5 to 3 kg of essential oil, comprising 0.25 to 3% of the weight of the fresh flower.
Uses
(i) Jasmine flowers have been used since ancient times in India for worship, ceremonial purposes, incense and fumigants, as well as for making perfumed hair oils, cosmetics and soaps.
(ii) Jasmine oil is an essential oil that is valued for its soothing, relaxing, antidepressant qualities.
(iii) Jasmine blends well with other perfumes.
(iv) It is much used in modern perfumery and cosmetics and has become popular in air fresheners, anti-perspirants, talcum powders, shampoos and deodorants.

Rubber
(i) Botanical name: Hevea brasiliensis
(ii) Family: Euphorbiaceae.
(iii) Origin and Area of cultivation: It is a native of Brazil and was introduced outside its native range during the colonial period and has become an important cash crop.
(iv) Asia contributed 90% of the world production.
(v) Kerala is the largest producer in India followed by Tamil Nadu.
Uses
(i) Tyre and other automobile Parts manufacturing industries consume 70% of the rubber production.
(ii) Rubber is used in manufacturing footwear, wire and cable insulations, rain-coats, household and hospital goods, shock absorbers, belts, sports goods, erasers, adhesives, and rubber bands Hard rubber is used in the electrical and radio engineering industries Concentrated latex is used for making gloves, balloons and condoms.
(iii) Foamed latex is used in the manufacture of cushions, pillows and life-belts.

Jute
(i) Botanical name: Corchorus spp.
(ii) Family: Malvaceae
(iii) Origin and Area of cultivation: Jute is derived from the two cultivated species (1) Corchorus capsularis and (2) C.olitorius is of African origin whereas C. capsularis, is believed to be Indo-Burmese origin.
(iv) It is an important cultivated commercial crop in Gangetic plains of India and Bangladesh.
Uses
(i) It is one of the largest exported fibre materials of India.
(ii) The jute industry occupies an important place in the national economy of India.
(iii) Jute is used for 'safe' packaging in view of being natural, renewable, bio-degradable and eco-friendly product.
(iv) It is used in bagging and wrapping textile. About 75% of the jute produced is used for manufacturing sacks and bags.
(v) It is also used in manufacture of blankets, rags, curtains etc.
(vi) It is also being used as a textile fibre in recent years

Chilies / Red Pepper
(i) Botanical name: Capsicum annuum, C. frutescens.
(ii) Family: Solanaceae
(iii) Origin and Area of cultivation: Capsicum is native to South America and is popularly, known as chilies or red pepper in English.
(iv) India is leading producer and exporter.
(v) C. annuum and C. frutescens are important cultivated species of chilies.
Uses 
(i) The fruits of C.annuum are less pungent than the fruits of C.frutescens. C.annura includes large, sweet bell peppers.
(ii) Long fruit cultivars of this species are commercially known as Cayenne pepper, which are crushed, powdered and used as condiments.
(iii) Chilies are used in manufacture of sauces, curry powders and preparation of pickles.
(iv) Capsaicin is an active component of chilies.
(v) It has pain relieving properties and used in pain relieving balms.
(vi) Chilies are a good source of Vitamin C, A and E.

Turmeric
(i) Botanical name : Curcuma longa
(ii) Family: Zingiberaceae
(iii) Origin and Area of cultivation: It is indigenous to Southern Asia India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric.
(iv) Erode in Tamil Nadu is the World's largest wholesale turmeric market.
Uses:
(i) Turmeric is one of the most important and ancient Indian spices and used traditionally over thousands of years for culinary, cosmetic, dyeing and for medicinal purposes.
(ii) It is an important constituent of curry powders.
(iii) Turmeric is used as a colouring agent in pharmacy, confectionery and food industry.
(iv) Rice coloured with turmeric (yellow) is considered sacred and auspicious which is used in ceremonies.
(v) It is also used for dyeing leather, fibre, paper and toys.
(vi) Curcumin extracted from turmeric is responsible for the yellow colour. Curcumin is a very good anti-oxidant which may help fight various kinds of cancer.
(vii) It has anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral activities.
(viii) It stops platelets from clotting in arteries, which leads to heart attack.

Black Pepper
(i) Botanical name: Piper nigrum
(ii) Family: Piperaceae
(iii) Origin and Area of cultivation: It is indigenous to Western Ghats of India.
(iv) pepper is one of the most important Indian spices referred to as the "King of Spices" and also termed as "Black Gold of India".
(v) Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are the top producers in India.
(vi) The characteristic pungency of the pepper is due to the presence of alkaloid Piperine.
(vii) There are two types of pepper available in the market namely black and white pepper.
Uses:
(i) It is used for flavouring in the preparation of sauces, soups, curry powder and pickles.
(ii) It is used in medicine as an aromatic stimulant for enhancing salivary and gastric secretions and also as a stomachic.
(iii) Pepper also enhances the bio-absorption of medicines.

Mango (National fruit of India)
(i) Botanical name: Mangifera indica
(ii) Family: Anacardiaceae
Origin and Area of cultivation
(i) The mango is the native to Southern Asia, especially Burma and Eastern India.
(ii) It is the National fruit of India. Major mango producing States are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Karnataka.
(iii) Salem, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri are the major mango producing districts of Tamil Nadu
(iv) Some of the major cultivars of mango in India are Alphonsa, Banganapalli, neelam and malgova.
Uses
(i) Mango is the major table fruit of India, which is rich in beta carotenes.
(ii) It is utilized in many ways, as dessert, canned, dried and preserves in Indian cuisine.
(iii) Sour, unripe mangoes are used in chutneys, pickles, side dishes, or may be eaten raw with salt and chili. Mango pulp is made into jelly.
(iv) Aerated and non-aerated fruit juice is a popular soft drink.

Finger Millet - Ragi
(i) Botanical name : Eleusine coracana
(ii) Finger millet is the crop of early introduction from East Africa into India. Ragi is rich in calcium.
Uses
(i) It is used as a staple food in many southern hilly regions of India. Ragi grains are made into porridge and gruel
(ii) Ragi malt is the popular nutrient drink. It is used as a source of fermented beverages.
Sorghum
(i) Botanical name : Sorghum vulgare
(ii) Sorghum is native to Africa.
(iii) It is one of the major millets in the world and is rich in calcium and iron.
Uses
(i) It is fed to poultry, birds, pigs and cattle and a source of fermented alcoholic beverage.

(i) Paddy is a semi-aquatic crop and is grown in standing water.
(ii) South East Asia is considered as the center of origin of rice. Earliest evidence of rice cultivation have been found in China, India and Thailand.
Uses:
(i) Rice is the easily digestible calorie rich cereal food which is used as a staple food in Southern and North East India.
(ii) Various rice products such as Flaked rice (Aval), Puffed rice / parched rice (Pori) are used as breakfast cereal or as snack food in different parts of India.
(iii) Rice bran oil obtained from the rice bran is used in culinary and industrial purposes. 
(iv) Hushs are used as fuel, and in the manufacture of packing material and fertilizer
Wheat
(i) Botanical name : Triticum aestivum
Origin and Area of cultivation
(ii) Earliest evidence for wheat cultivation from Fertile Crescent region.
(iii) The common cultivated wheat, Triticum aestivum is cultivated for about 7,500 years.
(iv) Wheat is mostly cultivated in the North Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.
Uses
(i) Wheat is the staple food in Northern India.
(ii) Wheat flour is suitable to make bread and other bakery products.
(iii) Processed wheat flour, that has little fibre, is called Maida which is used extensively in making parota, naan and bakery products.
(iv) Malted wheat is a major raw material for producing alcoholic beverages and nutritive drinks.

(i) Foxtail Millet (Setaria italic) - oldest millet - China 6000 years back. Rich in protein carbohydrate, vitamin B and C, Potassium and Calcium.
(ii) Uses: Strengthening of heart and improves eyesight. Thinai porridge for lactating mother.
(iii) Kodo Millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum): From West Africa which is rich in fibre, protein and minerals.
(iv) Uses: To make pudding - Good diuretic and cures constipation - reduce obesity, blood sugar and blood pressure.

(i) Tyre and other automobile - footwear, wire and cable insulations, rain coats, household and hospital goods, shock absorbers, belts, sports goods, erasers, adhesives, rubber bands.
(ii) Hard rubber - electrical and radio engineering industries.
(iii) Concentrated latex - making gloves, ballons and condoms.
(iv) Foamed latex - cushions, pillows and life belts.

Botanical pest repellent and insecticide made with the dried leaves of Azadirachta indica Preparation of Bio-pest repellent
(i) Pluck leaves from the neem tree and chop the leaves finely.
(ii) The chopped up leaves were put in a 50-liter container and fill to half with water; put the lid on and leave it for 3 days to brew.
(iii) Using another container, strain the mixture which has brewed for 3 days to remove the leaves, through fine mesh sieve. The filtrate can be sprayed on the plants to repel pests.
(iv) To make sure that the pest repellent sticks to the plants, add 100 ml of cooking oil and the same amount of soap water. (The role of the soap water is to break down the oil, and the role of the oil is to make it stick to the leaves).
(v) The stewed leaves from the mixture can be used in the compost heap or around the base of the plants.

Jute
Botanical name : Corchorus spp.
Family: Malvaceae
Origin and Area of cultivation: Jute is derived from the two cultivated species (1) Core horns capsularis and (2) Colittorius is of African origin whereas C. Capsularis, is believed to Indo Burmaese origin. It is an important cultivated commercial crop in Gangetic plains of India and Bangladesh.
Uses: It is one of the largest exported fibre material of India. The jute industry occupies an important place in the national economy Of India. Jute is used for 'safe' packaging in view of being natural, renewable, bio-degradable and eco-friendly product. It is used in bagging and wrapping textile. About 75% of the jute produced is used for manufacturing sacks and bags. It is also used in manufacture of blankets, rags, curtains etc. It is also being used as a textile fibre in recent years.

Black gram
(i) Botanical name : Vigna mungo.
(i) Origin and Area of cultivation : Black gram is native to India.
(ii) Earliest archeobotanical evidences record the presence of black gram about 3,500 years ago.
(iii) It is cultivated as a rain fed crop in drier parts of India.
(iv) India contributes to 80% of the global production of black gram.
(v) important states growing black gram in India are Uttar Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Karnataka.
Uses:
(i) Black gram is eaten whole or split, boiled or roasted or ground into flour.
(ii) Black gram batter is a major ingredients for the preparation of popular Southern Indian breakfast dishes.
(iii) Split pulse is used in seasoning Indian curries.