Spicing up the future: Unjha to take centre stage at Vibrant Gujarat regional conference in October

Gandhinagar: Gujarat will use its flagship Vibrant Gujarat platform this Oct to showcase Unjha — the cumin capital of India — to the world. Gujarat accounts for nearly 80% of India's spice seed exports, with Unjha at the heart of this booming industry, said the state govt.Officials said the spotlight on Unjha at the Vibrant Gujarat regional conference (VGRC) for North Gujarat in Oct will cement its status as a global spice hub.During the fiscal year 2024-25, cumin seeds and other spices worth about Rs 3,995 crore were shipped from Mehsana district alone to 101 countries. The largest buyers included China (25%), Bangladesh (16%), UAE (10%), US (5%), and Morocco (4%). Officials said the strong international demand underscores the global reach of Unjha's spice network. Data from the Union agriculture ministry's Agmarknet shows that 54,410 metric tonnes (MT) of cumin were registered at the Unjha APMC between Feb 15 and April 10, 2025 — a 17.5% jump compared to 46,313MT during the same period last year.A robust supply chain has ensured that Unjha remains a central hub for the spice industry, providing employment and business opportunities to thousands of farmers and traders. Official estimates for 2023-24 indicate that the region produced 72,100.59MT of cumin, with Banaskantha producing the most at 41,800.73MT, followed by Patan with 29,900.09MT.According to the govt statement, Unjha's spice dominance aligns with the state's larger vision of "Developed Gujarat @2047," where farming, processing, and exports work seamlessly to enhance farmers' global reach. Officials said the upcoming North Gujarat VGRC will provide further momentum to the spice hub, strengthening farmer linkages with world markets.