Tackling the Constraints of Cumin Cultivation and Management Practices

Special Article: Durum Wheat Breeding

Ann Agric Crop Sci. 2023; 8(3): 1134.

Tackling the Constraints of Cumin Cultivation and Management Practices

Mohit Kumar1,4; Pramod Kumar Sahoo1; Dilip Kumar Kushwaha1; Santosh Gudi2*; Gurjeet Singh2,3*; Aman Mahore4; Rohit Nalawade4; Abhishek Patel4; Nrusingh Charan Pradhan1; Mehdi Rahimi5

1Division of Agricultural Engineering, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, India

2Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, India

3Texas A&M University, AgriLife Research at Beaumont, USA

4ICAR-CIAE, India

5Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Iran

*Corresponding author: Santosh Gudi Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India. Gurjeet Singh, Texas A&M University, AgriLife Research at Beaumont, Texas-77713, USA. Email: santosh-pbg@pau.edu & gurjeet.singh@ag.tamu.edu

Received: April 24, 2023 Accepted: May 17, 2023 Published: May 24, 2023

Abstract

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is an important seed spice crop, having good medicinal properties and grown predominately in arid and semi-arid region of the world. India is the leading country with share of 70% in the world production of cumin. Two states of India (Rajasthan and Gujarat) cover nearly 80% of the total area under cumin cultivation. The current scenario and status of area, production and productivity in India has been reviewed to identify the various factors affecting cumin production and productivity. Apart from these major constraints related to climate, soil, agronomical, crop input, extension, marketing and farm mechanization in cumin production and their management are discussed thoroughly. Due to low productivity of cumin there is need to focus on integrated approaches such as utilizing modern technologies, advance agronomic practises, farm mechanization interventions and advanced breeding tools to enhance the cumin production. The study reveals alternative solutions to overcome these problems and evidenced that there is huge scope of farm mechanization to improve the production of cumin crop and reduce drudgery of farmers.

Keywords: Cumin cultivation; Constraints; Farm mechanization; Scope; Integrated approaches

Introduction

Seed spices, an important group of horticultural crops, which are largely grown in diverse region of the world under semi-arid region. In India, seed spices are extensive set of cash crop to fulfil the domestic needs as well as earning substantial foreign exchange. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has listed almost 109 spices that are used throughout the world. Among these, about 63 spices are grown in India, out of which 20 are categorised as seed spices [125]. The most common seed spices grown in India include fennel, cumin, coriander, anise, fenugreek, nigella, ajwain, caraway, celery and dill. Cumin crop has highest area among seed spices followed by fennel, coriander, fenugreek and other seed spices. India is the world's largest seed spice consumer, producer and exporter. It contributes approximately 51.79 and 19.06% area and production, respectively of the total spice production in the country [57]. The overall annual export of seed spice crops is Rs 19505.81 crore, out of which cumin alone accounts for Rs 2884.80 crore. India exports approximately 14% of its production and meets about 50% of the global demand [117]. There is a constantly increasing demand of seed spices in global market each year and India is the largest trustworthy supply point of these spices to other countries. India is the leading country in cumin production with a share of 70% total world production. However, the productivity of cumin in India is less in comparison to other countries due to limited adoption of improved method and new technologies in cumin cultivation. In India, Rajasthan and Gujarat are the two states that covers major area (more than 80%) of cumin production, besides these two states, it is also grown in some part of different states viz. Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal [85].