Context: Cumin (jeera) prices touched a new high of Rs 54,125 per quintal at the APMC mandi of Unjha in Gujarat, the price-setting market for the crop.
Past five year trend of Cumin (jeera) prices in India
- India accounts for some 70% of the world’s production of this seed spice. Other countries such as Syria, Turkey, UAE and Iran make up the balance 30%.
- Out of the total 7.25 lt production in 2021-22, two states – Gujarat (4.20 lt) and Rajasthan (3.03 lt) – had a combined 99.7% share.
- Area of cultivation to Saurashtra, Kutch and the northern parts of Gujarat and adjoining districts of western Rajasthan such as Jalore, Barmer, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Pali and Nagaur. Unjha, enjoying the strategic advantage of being in the centre of the country’s jeera cultivation belt, has become the price-setting market for the crop.
About Cumin seeds
- Cumin is the dried seed of the herb Cuminum cyminum, a member of the parsley family.
- It is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to the Irano-Turanian Region.
- Its seeds – each one contained within a fruit, which is dried – are used in the cuisines of many cultures in both whole and ground form.
Growing conditions: As a tropical to subtropical plant, it requires a moderately cool and dry climate sans any humidity, which is conducive for fungal infestation during the crop’s flowering and seed development stages. It is sown in October-November and harvested in February-March (it is not frost free).
Relevance in India: Cumin seeds (whole) or as grinded powder is used as spices in many Indian cuisines.
Health benefits:
1. It can help to control the insulin levels. Thereby control diabetes.
2. Daily consumption can also help in controlling obesity.
3. It helps in maintaining the high level of lipoprotein or “good cholesterol”.
4. Cumin may help fight the effects of stress by working as an antioxidant.
Why there is a price rise?
- Supply this year (the marketing season for jeera begins from mid-February and peaks in May) have been half of the demand.
- India’s jeera production, according to government estimates, has fallen from 9.12 lakh tonnes (lt) in 2019-20 to 7.95 lt in 2020-21 and 7.25 lt in 2021-22.
- Demand has been increasing in hotel and restaurant industry (post-covid) and from China as a whole.