Having registered record jeera (cumin seed) exports in 2007-08, Gujarat has so far exported 2 to 3 lakh bags (each bag weighing 50 kg) of jeera during the 2008-09 season, which is much lower than the 8 lakh bags exported in 2007-08. However, jeera exporters estimate exports of more than 5 lakh bags by the end of 2009.
Jeera arrivals start in the month of February and trading of the new crop lasts till October-November. “Except 2007-08, we have never exported more than 2 lakh bags. Last financial year was an exception as there was shortage of the commodity in the international market. Traders community see additional exports of 2 to 3 lakh more bags by the end of this calender year,” said BK Patel, a leading jeera exporter from Rajkot.
Despite the slowdown, buyers from the US, UK, Japan and Gulf countries are buying the commodity to meet their immediate requirements. “So far, 2 to 2.5 lakh bags of jeera have been exported to various countries. With steady buying, we expect the exports to further increase to 5 to 7 lakh bags by the end of 2009,” said Minesh Patel, managing director of Unjha-based Famous Export-Import Private Limited.
The export estimate of more than 5 lakh bags is much lower than the exports of 8 lakh bags in 2007-08. However, there will be a significant improvement in the exports as compared to the average jeera exports.
The jeera offtake by overseas players was slowed down at the beginning of the season due to recessionary pressures across the globe. At that time, the price of jeera was hovered higher at Rs 2,200 per 20 kg.
It may be mentioned here that despite the rise in jeera acreage in 2008-09, the output is estimated to be lower at around 23 to 25 lakh bags in the country. Jeera yield took a major hit on account of erratic climatic conditions. As against this, jeera output was 27 to 28 lakh bags in 2007-08 and the carry forward stock was in the range of 7 to 10 lakh bags. Gujarat contributes around 65 percent to the total jeera production in the country and all the exports are carried out from Gujarat, mainly Unjha in the northern part of the state.