Changing the Paradigm of Cumin Farming in North Gujarat

Banas Farmers Producer Co Ltd is located in the Radhanpur block of Patan District in Gujarat. Radhanpur is located about 170 Kms from Ahmedabad, towards the Northern side and about 70 Kms from the district headquarters – Patan. The region abuts the Rann of Kutch, which lends it a semi-arid climate. Average rainfall is about 500 mm annually, all condensed into a period of 25 days. Hence, the climate can fl uctuate between extreme dry spells and periods of inundation. A majority of farmers depend on rains for irrigation, as only an approx. 30% of the area is irrigated, bore-wells and open wells being the main source. Farmers are pre-dominantly small and marginal, with average land holding being around 1-1.5 acres. Farmers in Radhanpur primarily grow Pearl Millet (Bajra) and Black Gram (Urad) during the Kharif season and Cumin, Castor and Chickpeas during the Rabi period; Cumin and Castor being the main cash crops.