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Jeera (Cumin)RabiOpen-pollinatedUpdated 1 September 2026

GC-4 (Gujarat Cumin-4)

The most widely grown high-yielding cumin release, from Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University — bold, high-oil seed with genuine Fusarium wilt resistance.

SeasonRabi
Maturity period105–110 days
Expected yield8.7–12.5 q/ha
Suitable soilSandy / light soil

Quick facts

Crop
Jeera (Cumin)
Type
Open-pollinated
Season
Rabi
Maturity period
105–110 days
Seed rate
10–12 kg/ha for line sowing
Expected yield
8.7–12.5 q/ha
Suitable soil
Sandy / light soil
Release
Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Gujarat

About this variety

GC-4 is the benchmark cumin variety of the main Gujarat–Rajasthan wilt belt, released by Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University and bred specifically to stand up to Fusarium wilt, the disease that most limits cumin cultivation. Multiple independent sources report a yield potential of 8.7 to 12.5 q/ha — well above the 5–7 q/ha typical of older, non-resistant local types — along with bold seed size and a higher volatile-oil content, both of which matter directly to the price a grower is paid. Because wilt is soil-borne and builds up wherever cumin is grown repeatedly on the same land, GC-4's resistance is less a yield bonus and more a way to keep the crop viable at all on fields with any wilt history.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeOpen-pollinated
    Maturity105–110 days
    Yield potential8.7–12.5 q/ha
    Disease resistanceResistant to Fusarium wilt
    SoilSandy / light soil
    SeasonRabi

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timeMid-November to early December
  • Seed rate10–12 kg/ha for line sowing
  • Spacing30 cm between rows
  • IrrigationLight irrigation at sowing, again at 7–10 days for germination, then every 20–25 days — about 4–6 in total
  • FertilizerAbout 30:15:0 kg N:P2O5:K2O/ha on top of 15–20 t/ha farmyard manure, half the nitrogen basal and the rest at 25–30 days
  • HarvestingCut once the plant browns and seed hardens, usually around 105–110 days after sowing, most often in February

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil
Well-drained sandy loam
pH
7.0–8.5

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

105–110 days

Expected yield

8.7–12.5 q/ha

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Genuine Fusarium wilt resistance makes it the safest default choice on any field with a wilt history in the main growing belt.
  • Bold seed size and higher volatile-oil content are consistently reported as commanding a better price than local, non-resistant types.

Things to consider

  • Resistance is specific to Fusarium wilt — the crop still needs the standard Alternaria blight and powdery mildew spray schedule at flowering.

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Gujarat
  • Rajasthan

Frequently asked questions

Why is GC-4 the most commonly recommended cumin variety?

It combines genuine Fusarium wilt resistance — the disease that most limits cumin cultivation — with a yield potential of 8.7–12.5 q/ha, well above older local types, plus bold seed and higher oil content that fetch a better price.

Sourced from: AICRPS Technical Bulletin — Gujarat Cumin-4. editorial policy.