The cumin is mainly cultivated in India, Turkey, Syria, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, Egypt,
Pakistan, and Italy. India is estimated to produce more than 70% of the world’s cumin, from
approximately 841940hectares under cultivation, yielding 546750tonnescumin seed (2019-20).In
India Cumin is mostly cultivated in Rajasthan (503230hectares) and Gujarat (337007hectares) and
in some part of M.P. and U.P. as a rabi crop. The two states Rajasthan and Gujarat have leading
position in terms of area and production which contribute more than 99%of the total production
of cumin in India.
Cumin is believed to be the native of upper Egypt, Turkey and East Mediterranean region.
The productivity level of cumin in our country is low. The main reasons of low productivity are
lack of adoption of improved variety, package of practices including weed management and
control of insect pests as well as inadequate extension services and laggard attitude of fanners for
adoption of new innovation due to fear of poor performance on their fields.
The technology that have emanated out of research efforts at NRCSS and at different
centres located in the different agro climatic regions, under the AICRP on spices at various SAU’s
and NRC on Seed Spices has been compiled in this volume of advance production technology for
cumin. We are sure that this publication shall prove highly useful to various stake holders such as
field functionaries, growers, exporters, students and others having interest in cultivation of cumin
scientifically.
We hope this technical bulletin will provide relevant information. Suggestion if any for its
improvement are welcome for future publication.

Introduction
The cumin commonly known as Jeera, (Cuminium cyminium L.) belongs to family Apiaceae. It is an
important spice occupying more than 22% of spice acreage (3824260 hectares) and largest grown
seed spice with having more than 48% seed spice acreage (1737610 hectares) in the country. In
India Cumin is mostly cultivated in Rajasthan and Gujarat and in some part of M.P. and U.P. as a
rabi crop. Rajasthan and Gujarat have important position in terms of area and production and
contribute 99% of the total production of cumin in India. In India, cumin occupies an area of 8.42
lakh hectares and the total production is 5.47 lakh tonnes (2019-20). Major cumin producing states
with districts

Cultural requirements
The cultural requirements for higher production of cumin are given as under:
Climate
The crop is successfully cultivated in moderately cool and dry climate. It does not prefer humidity
in the atmosphere during flowering and seed setting stage because it is prone to attack by several
diseases. It is also susceptible to frost injury during flowering and early fruit setting stage.
Therefore, cumin cultivation is restricted in the area, where atmospheric humidity is low and
winters are not severe. The frequent rain during flowering or early fruit setting and at the time of
maturity period is highly undesirable.

Soil
Cumin can be cultivated in wide range of soils, however either sandy with low organic matter or
clay and clay loam soils having good amount of organic matter are more suitable. Sandy loam soil
is not much suitable as that of Clay of sandy.The soil should have better drainage facility because
stagnated water and excessive moisture is very harmful to cumin crop. Soil having high pH or
high pH calcareous soil are not much suitable for better crop growth and yield. It has been
reported that cumin can be adopted well under soil suspension EC, 14.0 dSm-1 and highest salinity
tolerant among the seed spices. Seed filling is better at slightly saline soil or irrigation water, hence
cumin is a boon for the farmers under such conditions. It can be grown on both deep, shallow
soils, however gravely or stony soils having good soil porosity and drainage facility is most
suitable.