CZC-94
The newest cumin release, from ICAR-CAZRI Jodhpur — bred for arid, low-water tracts, maturing in 100–105 days against the traditional 120–135, and needing fewer irrigations and fungicide sprays.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Jeera (Cumin)
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- 100–105 days
- Expected yield
- Not separately published; grown commercially in arid Rajasthan since Rabi 2021–22
- Suitable soil
- Sandy / light soil
- Release
- ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur
About this variety
CZC-94, released by ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur, is the newest cumin variety covered here and the first bred specifically to shorten the crop's exposure to arid-zone stress rather than primarily to beat wilt. It matures in 100 to 105 days against the traditional 120 to 135 for older types, reaching flowering in just 40 to 42 days, which lets it escape the terminal heat stress of February–March that can cut yield and quality in longer-duration varieties. It needs only about three irrigations after germination against the usual four to five, and its resistance to Alternaria blight cuts the spray schedule to two or three rounds instead of three to four — real savings on both water and input cost in the arid tracts it targets. It has been grown commercially by farmers in non-conventional arid areas of Rajasthan since Rabi 2021–22, and can also be sown as late as mid-December without the yield penalty an older variety would suffer at that sowing date.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeCan be sown as late as mid-December without the yield penalty an older variety would suffer
- IrrigationAbout 3 irrigations after germination, fewer than the 4–5 typical of older varieties
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Light arid sandy soil
Climate
- Climate
- Bred for non-conventional arid tracts with limited water and a short cold season
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
100–105 days
Expected yield
Not separately published; grown commercially in arid Rajasthan since Rabi 2021–22
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Shortest duration of any released cumin variety, escaping February–March terminal heat stress that affects longer-duration types.
- Needs fewer irrigations (about 3 versus the usual 4–5) and fewer fungicide sprays (2–3 versus 3–4), cutting both water use and input cost.
- Sowing flexibility extends to mid-December without the usual late-sowing yield penalty.
Things to consider
- A newer release with a shorter public track record than GC-4 or the RZ lines — a specific yield figure in q/ha was not found in this research pass, only its relative advantages.
- Bred and tested for arid, non-conventional tracts — check with the local KVK on fit for a more typical irrigated field.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Rajasthan
Frequently asked questions
What makes CZC-94 different from other cumin varieties?
It is bred to shorten the crop's exposure to arid-zone stress rather than primarily to beat wilt — maturing in 100–105 days (against 120–135 for older types), needing only about 3 irrigations and 2–3 fungicide sprays, and escaping the February–March terminal heat that cuts yield in longer-duration varieties.
Sourced from: ICAR — CZC-94: Potential Game Changer for Cumin Cultivation in Arid Regions. editorial policy.