New Delhi. Rajasthan’s cumin is very much liked by the world. Due to its superior quality, two traders from Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan have placed a huge order recently. In view of the good quality of cumin, an order of 50 tonnes has been placed. Cumin cultivation is considered a very risky business. Rajasthan produces 28 percent of the total cumin in the country. In Rajasthan, despite the high quality of cumin, the sale was very low. But now the hard work of the farmers and the Rajasthani soil, which is perfectly suited for the cultivation of cumin, is showing its strength. Rajendra Riad, Secretary, Merta (Nagaur) Mandi informed that Kyrgyzstan trader Sonal Shaukat and Afghanistan trader Mohammad Umar had come to Merta Agricultural Market and these foreign traders have ordered 50 tonnes of cumin seeds in Merta Mandi. He further told that the cumin seeds of Rajasthan get double the price in foreign markets. Last year, Rajasthan had sales of Rs 1265 crore.
However, since the past few days, the prices of cumin seem to be increasing. The rate of cumin had reached 22 thousand rupees per quintal. On the other hand, on April 5, the price of cumin had reached a record of Rs 25000 per quintal. But for the last 3 days, more than 12 thousand quintals of cumin have arrived in the market. It is said that high quality cumin seeds are found in the districts of western Rajasthan including Nagaur. The climate, soil and water here are in line with the cultivation of cumin. Merta’s cumin is supplied to many states and countries. The dry climate of Marwar region is best for cumin. Cumin has been cultivated in about 41 thousand hectares in this district this year, due to which the yield of about 5 quintals per hectare is being estimated. At the same time, last year cumin was cultivated in 52 thousand hectares, due to which about 38210 tonnes of cumin were produced.
Experts have given two main reasons for the rising prices of cumin seeds- first, this time the cultivation of cumin has decreased by 50 percent as compared to last year, due to which the goods are not available in the markets according to the demand. Second, the bad weather this time had destroyed up to 25% of the crops in the area. So the prices of cumin have increased due to less production and higher demand.