CROP Jeera or cumin seed is the dried fruit of a small herbaceous plant and is used mainly in cooking in India. It is grown in countries like India, Turkey and Syria and is used as food item and in medicines and has been a symbol for culture in Asian and African countries. Jeera accounts for 20-30% of total Indian spices exports. Jeera can be produced on almost all soil types but the soil, which suits the best to this crop, is a well-drained, fertile sandy soil type. It needs a minimum of 3 to 4 months of duration period after which it is harvested. A dry climate is required for proper cultivation and rains can be harmful especially during flowering period as fungal disease can set in. The sowing is done in October-November. Harvesting starts from February-March. As jeera is a weather-sensitive crop, the quality is adversely affected if rains occur during harvesting time. Again a cool climate during the sowing season is beneficial for the crop during growth stage. February-March is the peak arrival season. Sowing and harvesting period Cropping season JEERA—Special report Website: www.religareonline.com | Email: [email protected]Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Sowing Harvesting Region Cultivation period Harvesting period Saurashtra mid Oct–mid Nov mid Jan-mid Feb North Gujarat Nov Feb to mid-March Rajasthan mid Nov-mid Dec March
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JEERA—Special report - Religare Online PRODUCING COUNTRIES India is the major producer of jeera followed by Turkey, Syria and Iran. It is also produced in very small quantities in
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CROP
Jeera or cumin seed is the dried fruit of a small herbaceous plant and is used mainly in cooking in India. It is grown in countries like India, Turkey
and Syria and is used as food item and in medicines and has been a symbol for culture in Asian and African countries. Jeera accounts for 20-30%
of total Indian spices exports.
Jeera can be produced on almost all soil types but the soil, which suits the best to this crop, is a well-drained, fertile sandy soil type. It needs a
minimum of 3 to 4 months of duration period after which it is harvested. A dry climate is required for proper cultivation and rains can be harmful
especially during flowering period as fungal disease can set in. The sowing is done in October-November. Harvesting starts from February-March.
As jeera is a weather-sensitive crop, the quality is adversely affected if rains occur during harvesting time. Again a cool climate during the sowing
season is beneficial for the crop during growth stage. February-March is the peak arrival season.
Jeera rates in the spot markets have nearly doubled over the last 10 years. The main factor contributing to this rise in price has been the fall in
production – especially in Gujarat. Even though the area under production did not fall much, yet a fall in productivity ensured overall fall in produc-
tion for the commodity. The production being dependent on the vagaries of weather, it has been adversely affected due to the weather uncertain-
ties over the last few years. Rising export and domestic demand along with falling / stagnant production also ensured a firm trend for the com-
Jeera accounts for a major chuck of spices exports from India. The exports are mainly to countries like US, UK, Japan, Brazil, Bangladesh, Singa-
pore and many others.
Source: Spice Board of India
The exports during recent years have shown a huge rise due to increasing demand from EU and the US – and more importantly, the Gulf coun-
tries. It needs to be noted that Gulf countries generally meet their import demand from Turkey and Syria. But the continuous political disturbance
in those countries over last few years has ensured that the export demand shifted to India.
The production and export from Turkey and Syria have reportedly fallen, and the Indian exporters have benefitted from that. Better quality Indian
product and limited stocks in international markets due to low production there have ensured a rising demand for Indian jeera despite its higher
rates.
Also, the Indian production being a lot higher than that in Turkey, Syria or Iran, the Indian stock is generally available throughout the year while
the stocks in others get exhausted soon. So, most exporters generally turn to India for their requirements resulting in flare up in rates in the Indian
markets.
Apart from jeera, the byproducts of cumin seeds like oleoresins of cumin seeds and cumin oil is also exported from India. Due to cheaper rates in
Turkey and Iran, the Indian exports get affected. But Indian quality being better than those of others, it obviously attracts premium rates than