ADVANCES IN PRODUCTION
TECHNOLOGY OF CUMIN
INTRODUCTION
• Cuminum cyminum L.
• Apiaceae
• Origin – Southern Mediterranean region
• India – 75% of world production
• Producer – Rajasthan and Gujarat
• Competitor – Turkey, Iran, Syria
BOTANY
• Slender, branched, annual herb (25 cm) height
• Leaves are 2-3 partite linear, deep green
• Flowers white or pink
• Inflorescence – compound umbel
• Fruit is elongated, oval, elliptical, deeply furrowed,
light yellowish brown
Wolf,1927
Spice/state wise area and production of spices during 2007-08 to 2010-11
(Area in Hectare, production in Tons
Cumin Rate in the Indian market
(on 15/3/14)
STATES Max. price (Rs.) Min. price (Rs.)
Maharashtra
16000 14000
Gujarat
8400 7250
Kerala
7800 7600
VARIETIES
Variety Parentage Institution Salient features
S – 404 Selection from GAU – Moderatly tolerant to
germplasm Jagudan [Link], 2.2% essential
oil, 7.7% crude fibre
MC 43 Selection from - do- Medium duration variety
germplasm (110-115 days), Tolerant to
wilt and blight diseases
Gujarat Selection from local -do – Short duration variety,
cumin 1 germplasm Tolerant to wilt and blight
diseases.
Gujarat Pure line selection from -do – Good branching type,
Cumin 2 M2 irradiated seeds of Tolerant to wilt and blight
MC 43 diseases
Gujarat Recurrent selection from -do- Tolerant to wilt and blight
Cumin 3 EC-232689 Higher essential oil
(4.4%), resistant to frost
RZ 19 Recurrent selection from RAU, Jobner Tolerant to wilt and blight,
Ajmeer suit for late season sowing
SOIL AND CLIMATE
• Tropical and subtropical climate.
• Frost is the most dangerous
• High humidity during flowering and fruiting induces
development of diseases like powdery mildew and blight.
• Soil - sandy loam
SEEDS AND SOWING
Ploughed to fine tilth and leveled. Field is divided to beds of
convenient size.
Seed rate is 8.0 kg/ha.
In Gujarat & Rajasthan - sowing is done between 15 November
and late December. Late sowing resul;ts in poor yield.
Seeds are broadcast uniformly and covered with soil lightly.
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• Soak for 24 hours in running water improves the germination
percentage.
• Light irrigation is given after sowing.
• Line sowing can also be done at a spacing of 30 x 15 cm.
• In order to avoid fungal diseases, seed treatment with
fungicide @ 3g/kg is done. It takes about a week to germinate.
• Thinning is done when the seedlings attain a height of about 5
cm (Usually on month) maintaining a distance of 10 cm (plant
to plant).
IRRIGATION
• Less irrigation is required.
• 1st light irrigation is given immediately after sowing to wet the
surface soil.
• At this time, flow of water in beds must be slow so that seeds are not
disturbed.
• 2nd irrigation should be applied 8 –10 days after first irrigation.
• Depending upon the soil type and climatic conditions the subsequent
irrigations may be given at 15–25 intervals
• Last heavy irrigation must be given at the time of seed formation.
• Avoid irrigation at the time of active seed filling because it increases
the incidence of powdery mildew, blight and aphid infestation.
MANURING
FYM is applied at the rate of 15-20 t/ha basally. NPK at the rate
of 70: 60:40 Kg/ha is applied basally and 30kg/ha of nitrogen is
top dressed 30-40 days after sowing
INTERCULTURAL
First hoeing and weeding is done 30-40 days after sowing.
Thinning is also done at this stage.
HARVESTING AND YIELD
• The crop matures 100-110 days after sowing and
leaves turn yellow.
• Plants are uprooted and stacked in small bundles for
sun drying. The grains are separated by beating with
light sticks and cleaned by winnowing.
• Yield -550 kg/ha. The clean and dried seeds are
stocked in gunny bags.
PROCESSED PRODUCTS
Processed products include cumin powder, cumin oleoresin, volatile
oil and fixed oil.
PEST MANAGEMENT
• Aphid - major pest
• Sucks the sap of tender parts and reduces the yield.
• Spraying of 0.03% solution of Dimethoate or 0.025%
solution of Methyl demetone or 0.04% solution of
Monocrotophos is recommended to control the aphid.
LEAF EATING CATERPILLAR
• This pest causes damage to the foliage of
plants reducing yield of the crop
• It can be controlled by spraying of 0.02%
solution of Phosphamidon in the early stage of
crop.
DISEASE MANAGEMENT
• FUSARIUM WILT - Dropping of tips and leaves, leading to
mortality of the entire plant.
• Attack of wilt is severe in younger plants.
• No chemical control
• Crop rotation and use of Neem cake are helpful in checking
spread of the fungus
• Seeds collected from disease free plots should only be used for
sowing.
ALTERNARIA BLIGHT
• Brownish necrotic spots, which later turn to blackish.
• Fail to produce seeds.
• If seeds are produced they remain shriveled, light in weight
and dark in colour.
• spraying of 0.2% solution of Dithane-M-45 4 times at 10 days
interval commencing from 40 days after sowing is
recommended.
• Add 1 ml soap solution / liter water for better efficiency of
fungicide.
• The crop should be kept free from weeds. Crops requiring
more irrigation and mustard should not be grown in the
vicinity of this crop.
POWDERY MILDEW
• Early stages show minute whitish spots on leaves,
petiole, stem pedicel and seeds.
• In severe condition, it looks as the plants have been
dusted with white powder.
• At later stages of attack seeds become white and
shriveled and light in weight.
• Crop should be dusted with 300 mesh Sulphur dust @
25 kg/ha to control this disease as soon as the
symptoms are noticed.
• Spraying of wettable Sulphur or Dinocap (Kerathan or
Thiowet) can also be used to control the disease @ 20-
25 g per 10 liter of water at the initial stage of this
disease. If needed second spray should be given 15-20
days after first spray.
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