Commodity Online
UNJHA (Gujarat): One of the major victims of the Gujjar agitation in Rajasthan is the jeera trade. Following the agitation by the Gujjars for Scheduled Caste status, almost all roads linking Gujarat and Rajasthan are blocked and traffic had come to a halt.

This has affected the trade between the two states especially commodity business.

In normal circumstances, Jeera and isabgol start arriving in Gujarat mandis in March and April respectively. Both these commodities mainly arrive at Unjha market yard, which is Asia’s largest market yard and a hub of jeera trade.

Rajasthan provides around 75-80 per cent of the total jeera arrivals in Gujarat.

According to traders, daily jeera arrivals have declined by 2,000-2,500 bags to 8,000-9,000 bags (weighing 65 kg) a day with total arrival at Unjha around 12,000-13,000 bags. Similarly, isabgol arrivals have dipped by 500-1,000 bags to 5,000-6,000 bags, with total arrival, including that from MP, around 9,000-10,000 bags a day.

Following this, prices have increased by Rs 25-50 per 20 kg of these commodities.

The average price of jeera in Gujarat is hovering around Rs 1,750-1,950 per 20 kg, while that of isabgol around Rs 850-1,000 per 20 kg.