Despite bumper production, prices of cumin (jeera) are staying at elevated levels, causing industry to suspect hoarding by the traders and big farmers in anticipation of even higher prices.

According to Dinesh Patel, chairman, Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Unjha, world’s largest cumin market, “Thanks to robust production recorded in the latest season (Feb-May) on the back of highest ever acreage, cumin prices had come down sharply to around Rs 20,000 – 22,000 per quintal in mid-April, from Rs 60,000 per quintal in the festival season last year. However, prices of the commodity are on the upswing again and hovering around Rs 30,000 per quintal.” 

He added that prices were expected to stabilize at this level for another month or two due to the farmers’ and traders’ reluctance to sell at lower prices, and could touch last year’s level around October as the festive season commences.

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