Peanut production may rise 40%

The country's peanuts/sesame seed production is likely to increase by 40 per cent this year on favourable monsoon and a substantial jump in crop area, according to a latest estimate by Indian Oilseeds & Produce Exporters Association (IOPEA). Delayed rains throughout the country at the time of flowering is set to increase output further at least by 5 per cent.

Total peanuts production, thus, is estimated to increase to 49 lakh tonnes against 35 lakh tonnes last year, while area under peanuts cultivation surged to 56 lakh hectares compared with 43.8 lakh hectares last year.

The average annual production of peanuts kernels is estimated at 6 million tonnes compared with 4.3 million tonnes last year. The country is likely to export 2.5 lakh tonnes of the commodity. According to the estimate, the overall crop size in Uttar Pradesh is estimated 40 per cent more than that of last year.

This is likely to translate into a total output of 1.05 lakh tonnes with a per hectare yield between 3.25-3.30 quintal. In Gujarat, the total sesame seed production is estimated at 60,000 tonnes this year against 50,000 tonnes last year. The state has witnessed a loss in sowing area to cotton and groundnut but due to better yield, output has seen a marginal rise.

The output in Rajasthan is estimated at 100,000 tonnes compared with 55,000 tonnes last year. In Madhya Pradesh, however, the production is expected to decline due to lack of rain. Approximately 75 per cent area under sesame in the state is rainfed. Poor rainfall has also affected the yield, which has come down to 325 kgs a hectare against 435 kgs last year. This has resulted in production falling to 1.14 lakh tonnes from 1.23 lakh tonnes last year.

Despite higher output in India, the price is set to remain firm throughout the year as the global scenario is worse than last year. The output in the US and China is likely to halve this year on severe drought in both the countries while Argentina is expected to produce more, but insufficient to meet the global requirements.

Argentina, one of the largest producers of peanuts, is estimating a total output of 5.8 lakh tonnes this year compared with 3.78 lakh tonnes last year on good rainfall.

The acreage under peanuts production in Argentina has also increased substantially to 2.16 lakh hectares this year compared with 1.68 lakh hectares last year.