Betting big on increased prices, coupled with fantastic rains and improved h2o availability, farmers in Gujarat are earning a record of kinds in groundnut cultivation — the region protected beneath the oilseed has so considerably touched an eleven-year peak.
As for every data from the Gujarat government’s agriculture section, groundnut sowing in the State has touched eighteen,27,519 hectares as on July 6, 2020. This is about eighteen for every cent increased than the 3-year regular of 15,forty,078 hectares. It was past in 2009 that Gujarat experienced recorded groundnut cultivation on an region of eighteen.22 lakh hectares. All-India region beneath groundnut was twenty five lakh ha as on July 3.
Farmer sources point out that improved prices for the oilseed is the crucial aspect for farmers turning to groundnut from other oilseeds these as castor and fibre crop of cotton. For the most part of the past year, groundnut prices in the location marketplaces have hovered above the minimum guidance rate (MSP) of ₹5,090 for every quintal for 2019-20. On Tuesday, groundnut (bold) prices quoted at ₹5,555 for every quintal at Gondal industry. For the present kharif season 2020-21, the Centre has hiked the MSP to ₹5,275 for every quintal, which is earning the oilseed far more interesting to farmers. The present location prices, even so, are off the the latest peak of ₹6,255 for every quintal in the past season.
Higher off-choose
In accordance to a Gujarat govt district agriculture officer from one of the districts in Saurashtra — heartland for groundnut — of the crucial kharif crops these as cotton, groundnut and castor, farmers observed much better rate potential clients in groundnut, on the lookout at its export potential and off-choose as in contrast to the other two commodities, which have struggled for most part of past year with suppressed prices.
The latest data introduced by the Agriculture and Processed Food items Exports Development Authority (APEDA) confirmed groundnut shipments had been up sharply for the year 2019-20. The data confirmed groundnut exports jumped fifty one for every cent to $716 million ($474 million in 2018-19) on progress in volumes and pricing owing to improved need from nations these as Vietnam. Groundnut shipments jumped to 6.64 lakh tonnes for 2019-20 as versus 4.89 lakh tonnes reported in the previous year.
This was not the circumstance with castor and cotton, for which farmers are thought to be holding unsold shares of the previous season. Place castor prices hovered at ₹3,830 for every quintal as versus ₹3,620 for every quintal in June. On the other hand, in December 2019, prices hovered at ₹4,379 a quintal, which was decreased by 15-eighteen for every cent around the previous year.
The State, which is the biggest grower of castor, has witnessed kharif castor cultivation abysmally very low at 1,927 hectares as on July 6 as versus the 3-year regular of 6,23,291 hectares.
Cotton, on the other hand, has been in the grip of a glut circumstance following the unsold shares piled up at each and every degree of the worth chain, from ginned cotton to yarn to textiles and garments. Place cotton quoted at ₹3,880 for every quintal, which is a great deal decreased than the MSP of ₹5,515 for every quintal for medium staple top quality. As for every Gujarat govt data, cotton cultivation is accomplished on eighteen,twenty five,276 hectares, which is about 32 for every cent decreased than the 3-year regular of 26,seventy two,892 hectares.