“GUJARAT is expected to harvest a record groundnut crop of 38.55 lakh tonnes during the current Kharif season, which is about 8.74% higher when compared to 35.45 lakh tonnes produced in the previous year. The production is up mainly due to normal to excessive rainfall during the months of August and September and absence of significant crop damage,” said SEA in the statement. Industry body Solvent Extractors’ Association (SEA) of India has pegged the groundnut production of Gujarat, the top producer of the oilseed at 38.55 lakh tonnes, up by 8.74% than the previous year.
A team of SEA headed by GG Patel, convener, SEA Oilseed Crop Estimate Committee carried out the crop survey, informed SEA in a statement.
This year the first round of sowing took place in the second week of June. “However, there was a rain deficit during July which continued till mid-August and adversely affected the standing crop. Better rainfall during the second half of August and excessive rainfall during September and early October changed the scenario to near normal,” said SEA.
SEA has reported a dip in the acreage under Kharif groundnut in Gujarat by 1.55 lakh hectares. “The area sown has decreased to 19.10 lakh hectare from 20.65 lakh hectare last year due to shift in acreage from groundnut to soybean and other crops. Thanks to the good rain and no major damage, yields have jumped to 2020 kilogram per hectare against 1715 kg/hectare in the previous year,” said SEA.
Gujarat Government has decided to buy groundnut in the shell at a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs.5550 per quintal and a maximum quantity of 2.5 tonnes per farmer.