**2.10 Harvesting**

Cumin generally attains maturity in about 90–120 days. Physiological maturity as indicated by yellowing of plant is the most appropriate stage to obtain produce of high quality. Complete drying of plants has adverse effect on the crop quality. Apart from this prolonged sun drying of the crop prior to threshing is not advisable as it lowers the crop quality and has deleterious effect on oil content of seed. Harvest the crop early in morning to avoid grain shattering, followed by beating and trampling it on a clean threshing floor. In case of large scale cultivation threshing can also be with the help of a thresher which is very popular among the farmers now days. There have been attempts to design modified seed harvesters for cumin [19]. After harvesting cumin is cleaned and graded with the help of mechanical devices. The thoroughly cleaned cumin seeds can be stored with 7–8% moisture level at 40% equilibrium relative humidity. Seeds can be stored in polythene film lined gunny bags in a well ventilated, dry and cool place till next sowing season.
