Thanks to heavy rainfall in Turkey, Syria and Iran and faourable weather condition at home, India’s exports of jeera (cummin seed) is looking up. The hub of country’s jeera trade, Unjha in Mehsana district of Gujarat is buzzing with activities. According to traders, due to prolonged winter this year, the country’s raw jeera production is likely to exceed 2.5 million bags (60 kg a bag) during 2007-2008 up from 1.6 million bags recorded during 2006-7, a hefty increase of 56%.

“Jeera crop requires low rainfall along with low temperature. Thus the long winter spell this year has helped in bumper crop,” Manu Patel, president, Market Yard Merchant Association, Unjha, told FE. According to Patel, domestic consumption of jeera is around 2.2 million bags. “With the bumper crop, the exports are going to rise significantly,” Patel said.

He said that exports were expected to rise from 2 lakh bags achieved last year to 5 lakhs bags this year. Heavy rains in other jeera producing countries like Turkey, Syria and Iran during January-February 2008 is expected damage more than 40% of jeera output. However, the sowing has been done in these countries and harvesting would be done in June.

The total arrivals at Unjha market has increased to 3 lakh bags till mid-May, compared to 2 lakh bags last year. By April, it is likely to reach 5 lakh bags after the produce from Rajasthan reach the market.

At Unjha market, the prices of a 20 kg bag is in the range of Rs 1700 – Rs 2000 at present in comparison to Rs 2400 – Rs 2500 ranged prevailed last year.

The jeera plant is grown as a rabi or winter crop in India, which is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of jeera. Rajasthan and Gujarat contribute more than 90% of the jeera output. Banaskantha and Mehsana in Gujarat and Barmer, Jalore, Jodhpur and Nagaur in Rajasthan are the biggest production areas of jeera.

The country produces 1 to 2 lakh tonne of cumin seeds annually. Syria is the next biggest producer with a production of 25000 tonne. Total area under cultivation is estimated to be more than 4 lakh hectares. India exports cumin seed to countries including Bangladesh, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, UAE, UK and US. Besides India, the consumption of cumin seed in rest of the world is in the range of 25,000 to 30,000 tonne.