Farmers in Rajasthan's Hadoti region are moving away from coriander cultivation due to a decrease in production. Disease outbreaks have been identified as a factor in this transition.
Hadoti, a key coriander-producing area in Rajasthan, has seen a reduction in cultivation. Official data indicates that coriander was grown on 100,000 hectares a decade ago, but this area is projected to decrease to around 40,000 hectares by 2024-25, a decline of about 60%.
RK Jain, Joint Director of the Horticulture Department, noted, "Kota and Hadoti have been famous all over India in coriander cultivation. However, the area of sowing is gradually decreased in the past years." The reduction is attributed to the absence of suitable coriander varieties and the prevalence of 'Chhachhiya' and 'Longia' diseases. Additionally, coriander prices have fallen, diminishing farmer interest. Jain emphasized the need for high-yield varieties to sustain farmer engagement.
According to Bharatiya Kisan Sangh District Minister Rupnarayan Yadav, garlic has supplanted coriander. "Farmers are getting more production in garlic and are also getting good prices for the same," he stated. Garlic production reaches 7,000 to 7,500 kg per hectare, while coriander yields about 1,500 kg per hectare.
Jain further commented on the shift, noting that while coriander cultivation remained stable at around 50,000 hectares over six years, garlic cultivation expanded to 40,000 hectares as prices rose. Weather changes and labor demands have also influenced farmer decisions, as noted by local farmers Trilok Dadhich and Ghanshyam. They reported that despite lower seed costs and minimal fertilizer needs, coriander prices are inadequate, with current rates at $110 to $120 per 100 kg instead of the expected $170 to $180.
Source: Bharat