The large dependency of the agriculture sector over the climate condition and weather pattern of the country has never remained untouched.
From crop sowing to harvesting, weather forecasts plays a pivotal role in defining the crop production each year. The jeera is sown each year from the months of October to November and is harvested in February and March.
At present, 60-70% of the crop is at the stage of flowering and ready to harvest. The sowing season for Rabi crop, particularly for jeera was satisfactory. Moreover, the weather models as of now are not indicating any rains or harvest disruptions during the harvest season in February and March. Weather is expected to remain dry in Gujarat during the next two months. Hence, weather conditions seem favorable for jeera harvesting as well.
Gujarat is a major producer of jeera in India however, the second largest output comes from Rajasthan. In Gujarat, Saurashtra region is the leading jeera producing belt with total acreage standing at 134800 hectares. As per the latest report by Gujarat government, jeera, this year, has been sown in a comparatively less area than last year.
This year, jeera has been sown in 278700 hectares of land while 292400 hectares of land was used to sow jeera last year. Though the average area used to sow this condiment during the season is 339000 hectares.
Moreover, as the arrival of jeera is due in next few months, the prices of this commodity have turned rough in the futures market. As compared with the Turkey’s market, which is quoted at around $3,200 per ton, Indian jeera prices at the international markets are trading at around $2,700 per tons.
The traders foresee the jeera crop trading this year i.e. 2016/2017 is to be at the same level as the previous years. The production quoted is expected to be at around 45-50 lakh bags (one bag=55 kg).
Image Credit: IASRI