Cumin exports from Rajasthan surge 23 times

The desert state of Rajasthan has recorded a substantial jump in exports of dhania (coriander seeds) and jeera (cumin) in the last one year.

As per the Rajasthan government's figures, export of coriander seed went up around 1.5 times and that of cumin by over 23 times in 2006-07 (April-March). "The exports of coriander seeds touched 4.3 million kg in 2006-07 against 2.8 million kg in 2005-06. Similarly cumin exports went substantially up from 36,000 kg in 2005-06 to 836,000 kg in 2006-07," Rajasthan's agriculture minister Prabhulal Saini said.

Both coriander and cumin on an average are sown in over 200,000 hectares between October and November and Rajasthan with a share of over 50 per cent is the largest producer of both the spices in the country.