Snapshot

Why Unjha is iconic:
Unjha, in Mehsana district of Gujarat, is known as “Spice City of India” and hosts Asia’s largest agri-mandi for spices, oilseeds, and pulses. This trading cluster serves as the central hub for spice procurement, cleaning, grading, and bulk export. With a 100+ year trading history, Unjha’s mandi is integrated with modern processing facilities, warehouses, and global trade networks, making it a preferred sourcing point for spice exporters, bulk traders, and FMCG companies.

Scale:

• Unjha mandi handles over ₹5,000 crore (~$600M) in annual trade.
  
• Gujarat accounts for ~90% of India’s cumin exports; most passes through Unjha.
  
• Hosts 1,000+ spice traders, exporters, and processors, supported by SEZs and agri-export hubs.
  

Product Range

Category	Key Products
Spices (Whole & Ground)	Cumin, fennel, fenugreek, ajwain, coriander
Oilseeds	Sesame seeds (hulled & natural), mustard seeds
Psyllium Husk (Isabgol)	GI-tagged isabgol, husk powder
Pulses	Chickpeas, pigeon peas, green gram
Seed Products	Dill seed, carom (ajwain), mustard seed
Value-Added Products	Steam-sterilized spices, spice oils, oleoresins
Organic & Fairtrade Spices	EU/USDA-certified cumin, sesame, fennel

Cluster Strengths

Feature	Details
Asia’s Largest Spice Market	100+ year-old mandi; trade hub for cumin and oilseeds
GI-Tagged Psyllium Husk (Isabgol)	Exclusive GI recognition from Gujarat
Export Powerhouse	Supplies ~70% of India’s cumin and psyllium exports
Integrated Supply Chain	Cleaning, grading, sterilization, and packaging
Institutional Backing	Spices Board, APEDA, APMC, and Gujarat Agro Industrial Corp.
Global Reach	Buyers from EU, USA, Japan, Middle East, Southeast Asia

Materials & Sustainability

Key Practices:

• Farm-level sourcing through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
  
• Contract farming for cumin, sesame, and fennel seeds.
  
• Modern cleaning and sorting plants with Buhler/Sortex optical sorting machines.
  
• Packaging aligned with ASTA and ESA standards.
  

Sustainability Edge:

• Strong focus on organic certification programs.
  
• Zero-waste models: psyllium husk by-products used for animal feed.
  
• Water-efficient farming in semi-arid Gujarat regions.
  
• Solar-powered warehouses and cold storage units.
  

Cluster Infrastructure

• Mandi & SEZ:
  
  • Unjha Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandi – Asia’s largest for spices.
    
  • Spice Park (Unjha) with cleaning, sterilization, and processing facilities.
    
• Testing & R&D:
  
  • Spices Board Quality Evaluation Lab.
    
  • NABL-accredited labs for pesticide residue, aflatoxin, and heavy metal testing.
    
• Logistics:
  
  • Rail connectivity via Mehsana junction; highways link to Mundra, Kandla ports (~350 km).
    
  • Container freight stations (CFS) in Ahmedabad for exports.
    

Compliance & Certifications

• GI tag for Psyllium Husk (Isabgol).
  
• ISO 22000, HACCP, GMP, and FSSAI-certified processing plants.
  
• ASTA (American Spice Trade Association) and ESA (European Spice Association) compliance.
  
• USDA Organic, EU Organic, and JAS certification for organic exports.
  
• BRCGS and Fairtrade certifications for premium buyers.
  

Production Timelines & MOQs

Product Type	Sampling Lead Time	Bulk Lead Time	MOQ Guidance
Cumin Seeds	1 week	3–5 weeks	5 MT bulk
Fennel & Fenugreek Seeds	1 week	3–5 weeks	5 MT bulk
Psyllium Husk (Isabgol)	1–2 weeks	4–6 weeks	1 MT bulk
Sesame Seeds	1–2 weeks	3–5 weeks	3–5 MT bulk
Organic Certified Spices	2 weeks	4–6 weeks	2 MT bulk
Spice Oils & Oleoresins	2 weeks	4–6 weeks	500+ kg

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Branding & Packaging

• Branding: Regional branding (“Unjha Cumin”, “GI Isabgol”) for international buyers.
  
• Packaging:
  
  • Multiwall paper bags (25–50 kg) with moisture barriers.
    
  • Vacuum and nitrogen-flushed pouches for retail.
    
  • Export-standard HDPE drums for spice oils.
    
  • QR-coded traceability for origin authentication.
    

Quality Control (IndiaUnbox Protocol)

• ASTA and ESA-approved sampling methods.
  
• NABL-accredited pesticide residue and aflatoxin testing.
  
• Steam sterilization and ETO treatment for microbial control.
  
• SGS, Intertek, and Bureau Veritas inspections for export consignments.
  
• Traceability audits via FPOs and blockchain pilots.
  

Price Drivers

• Seasonal harvest cycles (cumin: Feb–Mar, sesame: Nov–Jan).
  
• International demand (Middle East, EU, USA) and currency fluctuations.
  
• Organic certification costs for niche markets.
  
• Processing and sterilization charges.
  
• Global freight and container availability.
  

Buyer Confidence Signals

• Unjha is Asia’s largest spice and seed mandi, trusted for over a century.
  
• GI-certified psyllium husk and premium cumin exports build buyer trust.
  
• Strong institutional support from Spices Board and APEDA ensures global compliance.
  
• Integrated farm-to-export supply chain with traceability.
  
• Preferred sourcing hub for bulk spices, organic ingredients, and spice blends.