Gujarat's Fennel Sowing Trends: What’s Going On This Year?

This year, fennel planting in Gujarat has hit a serious low. According to the State Agriculture Department, only 46,500 hectares have been sown so far. It is just about a third of the usual area. Compared to the three-year average, this represents just 64 percent of the typical fennel planting.

Saurashtra, Gujarat’s largest fennel-growing region, has been hit hardest. This season, only 22,900 hectares have been planted, a steep drop from last year’s 93,100 hectares—a staggering 75 percent decrease. Central Gujarat is also seeing declines, with only 1,400 hectares planted compared to 3,500 hectares last year—a 60 percent drop.

Other regions are struggling, too:

• Kutch: Sowing is down by 49 percent, with only 5,600 hectares planted, compared to 11,000 hectares last year.
• North Gujarat: Farmers have planted fennel on just 16,600 hectares, a 35 percent decrease from last year’s 25,600 hectares.

Explaining the Current Situation in Fennel Sowing

In our previous report on December 11, 2024, we highlighted a record-breaking fennel production year for India. The production reached 383,900 tonnes, almost doubling the previous year’s 202,100 tonnes. This surge was driven by favorable weather conditions and a significant expansion in the cultivation area, which grew from 90,000 hectares in 2023 to 195,000 hectares in 2024. Gujarat and Rajasthan were the largest contributors, with 123,000 hectares and 58,000–59,000 hectares of fennel cultivation, respectively.

However, the oversupply last year caused prices to plummet, leaving farmers unable to recover their costs. As a result, many farmers expressed a lack of interest in continuing fennel cultivation, and traders predicted that sowing in key regions like Rajasthan could decline by 50–60% in the upcoming season. This prediction has now materialized.

Why Are Farmers Planting Less?

Farmers and experts point to a mix of rising input costs, erratic weather, and changing market conditions as the main reasons behind the decline. One farmer in Saurashtra explained, “Fennel prices were decent last year, but the cost of seeds and fertilizers has gone up so much that it’s hard to make a profit.”

What’s Next for Gujarat’s Fennel Crop?

With such low planting levels, the state’s fennel production is likely to take a big hit. The Agriculture Department is keeping a close eye on the situation. But recovery depends on favorable weather and improved support for farmers. For now, the outlook remains uncertain, and both producers and consumers are bracing for potential shortages.





Click here to reach our trading platfrom CMBroker