Cumin exporters demand more protection for farmers

In order to maintain India's ranking as the top jeera or cumin seeds exporting nation, exporters of the cash crop has accentuated the need of more protection for farmers in the country.
The first-ever national conference on cumin seeds, the largest exporting spice from India, was held here yesterday.
Its export currently constitutes 62 per cent share in the global market.
Speakers at the conference reiterated the need of safeguarding farmers by different means so that they are motivated to not only keep sowing the crop, but also increase sowing acreage.
Held with a view to promote the practice of organic farming of the crop and prevent the malpractices in the trade, this meet saw convergence of large number of farmers, traders, exporters and heads of the spice board besides agriculture scientists and technologists from across the country.

Chairman of the Agriculture Produce Management Committee (APMC), Gujarat, Gaurang Patel said that cumin seeds is one of the most critical crop and a modest switch in weather could wreak havoc on the crop.
"Keeping this in mind, the APMC has decided to help and protect farmers from this exigency by way of providing them safeguards," Patel said adding the entire business was dependent upon the good produce and the farmers are the first in this entire trade chain.
Chairman of Rajasthan Khadya Padarth Vyapar Sangh, Babulal Gupta said: "Today, Rajasthan is fast moving ahead by setting new records in terms of production of various crops like Cumin seeds, Mustard and now in Wheat also and if we want this trend to be perpetual, we and the government needed to come forward," Gupta said.