The flavor of cumin

A couple of years ago, turmeric was the commodity on which many farmers in Andhra Pradesh had made tones of rupees. And then it fizzled out. But this year, the new ‘turmeric’ is cumin or jeera as we know it. This jackpot has come thanks to the unrest in Syria.

In Middle Eastern, Asian and Mediterranean cuisines, cumin is an important ingredient and this market was taken of mostly by Syria. And with supply from Syria coming down to a trickle, Indian farmers have stepped in. According to the Spices Board of India, India's exports of cumin surged 93% between April – Sept 2013 to 67,500 tons and the two states which have benefitted the most are Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Price of cumin has also risen. During the past three years, price of cumin hit a high at $1.93, which is 28% higher before the onset of the conflict. Currently it has settled down at $1.48 due to Indian cumin filling the gap. Many farmers, lured by the big money have switched from their traditional crops like cotton and mustard seed to cumin. According to Gujarat Agriculture department, the acreage of cumin fields, which accounts for 75% to 80% of India's cumin crop, was up 36% from a year earlier to 1.12 million acres. Well, one man’s adversity is another’s opportunity, rather, cumin!