The sowing area for spice crops in Gujarat has significantly declined this Rabi season, indicating a shift in the agricultural focus of farmers. Gujarat, a major producer of spices such as cumin, coriander, fennel, isabgol, and garlic, has seen a noticeable drop in the cultivation of these crops compared to the previous year.

1. Cumin: The area sowed with cumin is substantially lower this year, with only about 58,000 hectares under cultivation by November 25, a sharp decline from the 2.45 lakh hectares last year. This area is also just 15.18% of the normal average, which is 3.81 lakh hectares. While favorable weather conditions have existed for sowing, the price of cumin, which had surged to record highs last year, has returned to normal levels, dampening farmer interest in its cultivation.

2. Coriander: Similarly, coriander sowing is well below expectations. The state's three-year average area for coriander sowing is 1.58 lakh hectares, but by November 25, only about 16,000 hectares had been sowed, which is just 10.07% of the average. This is a significant drop compared to last year’s 57,000 hectares.

3. Fennel: The sowing area for fennel has also dropped sharply from 69,000 hectares last year to just 9,000 hectares, only 12.65% of the average area.

4. Other Spices: Sowing of garlic has decreased from 5,705 hectares last year to just 2,719 hectares. The area for isabgol has similarly fallen from 4,945 hectares to 1,145 hectares, and sowing of sawa has dropped from 16,000 hectares to only 2,000 hectares.

Despite sowing continuing in December, the sharp decline observed in November makes it difficult to recover the lost area in the coming months. This decline in sowing could potentially impact spice production, and depending on the extent of the drop, it might lead to higher market prices in the coming year, particularly for cumin, if the production continues to decrease.