Residue-free cumin supply in Rajasthan reaches 35,000 tonnes as premiums draw buyers

A DBT-backed IPM programme in Rajasthan produced nearly 35,000 tonnes of residue-free cumin between 2019 and 2024. Farmers earned 24-25% above market prices while lowering cultivation and procurement costs by 25-35%, strengthening supply options for ITC, spice processors and exporters.

— Filed Thu, 6 Aug, 2026, 20:45 IST · Source The Hindu BusinessLine · Updated

A DBT-led Rajasthan programme scaled residue-free IPM cumin to 35,000 tonnes, with potential to reach 100,000 tonnes. Farmers earned a 24-25% premium while cutting costs, supported by buy-back arrangements and demand from Indian spice companies, exporters and global markets.

Why this matters

The cumin sourcing option adds an agricultural supply-chain angle to ITC's recent signals, following its ₹3,500 crore Century Pulp acquisition and investor concern over cigarette-tax changes that kept the stock below ₹300.

The retail-company theme is accelerating, up 94,875% QoQ.