About the Market
Jeera from North Gujarat, Saurashtra and Rajasthan pours into Unjha from February, and the town's prices set the tone for cumin trade worldwide; NCDEX jeera futures also use Unjha as a reference. Large cleaning, grading and sortex units in and around Unjha prepare jeera, fennel and sesame for export to China, Bangladesh, the Middle East, Europe and the USA.
Unjha is also the hub of isabgol (psyllium), grown in North Gujarat and Rajasthan. Processing units remove the husk from the seed, and the husk is sold to pharmaceutical and health companies around the world as a natural fibre.
Seasons
Jeera and isabgol are rabi crops harvested in February–April; fennel arrives from February; sesame from autumn. Trading continues all year from stored stock.
- Unjha APMCKrushi Utpanna Bazar Samiti, UnjhaAboutExplore
- NCDEX jeeraFutures benchmarkAboutExplore
- Spices Board IndiaExport promotionAboutExplore
Crops Traded Here
How Trade Works in an Indian Mandi
Farmers bring produce in tractors, trucks or bullock carts to the market yard, where it is unloaded at the shop of a licensed commission agent (arhtiya or dalal). Buyers, including traders, millers, processors and exporters' agents, inspect the lots and bid in an open or tender auction, or increasingly on the eNAM electronic platform. The winning buyer pays a market fee to the APMC, the commission agent takes a small commission, and the farmer is paid. Weighing, cleaning, grading and loading are done by licensed workers in the yard. Daily arrivals and prices are reported to Agmarknet.
Buying from This Market as an Outside Buyer
Buyers from other states or abroad normally work through a licensed local trader or commission agent, who attends the auctions, checks quality, arranges cleaning, grading, bagging and loading, and bills with GST. Before a first deal, ask for samples, agree on the grade, moisture and tolerance for damaged or foreign matter in writing, and decide who pays for loading, transport and insurance. For exports and food processors, a third-party lab test for moisture, residues or aflatoxin is common. Payment is usually made by bank transfer before dispatch or against documents, and many traders now accept eNAM settlement. Prices change daily, so confirm the rate on the day of loading.
Getting There
Unjha is on the Ahmedabad–Palanpur highway and railway in Mehsana district, about 100 km north of Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad has the nearest major airport, and export cargo moves to Kandla and Mundra ports in Kutch.
Related: All mandi towns · All crops
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