MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC CROPS (2+1)

Origin and distribution

It is distributed in India, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Morocco , Spain,USA Thyme grows wild in almost all the countries bordering the Mediteranean and also over much of Asia and in parts of Central Europe and it grows best in the hills. It is found in the western temperate Himalayas, from Kashmir to Kumaon between altitudes of 1525 m and 4000 m. Thyme is grown in Europe Australia and North Africa, Canada and the USA as well.
Among the countries producing thyme oil, Spain stands first followed by France, Morocco and the Mediterranean countries. The bulk of the world demand for thyme oil is met by Spain and Turkey.

Area and production
Thyme is cultivated in high altitudes of Nilgris of Tamil Nadu in an estimated area of 20 hectares. The exact data on production of this crop is not known.