Groundnut acreage rises 50% in Saurashtra, Kutch

The area under groundnut cultivation for the kharif season has crossed the 60,000-hectare mark in Saurashtra-Kutch region compared with 40,000 hectare last year.

This may lead to decline in groundnut oil prices that are quoting around Rs 1,060 for a 15 kg tin. Experts believe the surge in groundnut acreage may pull down the oil prices to the Rs-900 levels.

Bhavnagar (20,475 hectare) , Junagadh (18,590 hectare) and Bhuj (15,012 hectare) districts of the region alone account for over 50,000 hectares of area under groundnut cultivation. The other districts, where the crop is grown include Jamnagar (4,640 hectare), Rajkot (3,105 hectare) and Porbandar (2,425 hectare).

At an average 35 per cent of land under summer crop cultivation is utilised for groundnut cultivation in the Saurashtra-Kutch region, also called 'Bowl of Groundnut'. Groundnut Is sown in 66,267 hectare of land out of the total 1,85,320 hectares under summer crop cultivation.

While speaking to Business Standard, Khimji Gonjiya, vice-president of Saurashtra Oil Millers Association (SOMA), the premium body of edible oil millers in Gujarat, said: "The almost 50 per cent rise in groundnut acreage in the region along with weak demand conditions will compel edible groundnut prices to operate in the price-band of Rs 900-Rs 960 per 15 kg tin." The real picture would be clear only after 45-60 days, when the complete details of land utilised for cultivation of the commodity are made available, he said, adding that the sharp jump in the area under groundnut cultivation would surely create a win-win situation for farmers, oil millers and consumers alike.