According to the State government, Gujarat is projected to achieve a record-high of 66 lakh tonne of groundnut this year. Notably, the state accounts for more than 50 per cent of India’s aggregate groundnut production.
What about the last year’s groundnut production?
The groundnut production in the state was around 52.20 lakh tonne in the last year. However, as per preliminary estimates, Gujarat is predicted to achieve 26 per cent more production this year. Interestingly, groundnut has been sown in 22 lakh hectares during the ongoing Kharif season. It is around 15 per cent more than 19.1 lakh hectares sown during 2024-25. More than 16.64 hectares have been sown for groundnut production in the Saurashtra region, known as the primary cotton-growing region.
What did the Head of Khedut Samaj’s Head Say?
Sagar Rabari, Head of Khedut Samaj, a farmers’ body, is also associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Gujarat said: “Though the government has predicted a bumper production of groundnut this year, it remains to be seen how the situation pans out with several areas of North Gujarat and Kutch which grow a good amount of groundnut and cotton crops getting flooded. Farmers in the Banaskantha, Patan and Kutch districts stated about the crop loss during our visit to this region a couple of days ago,”. The state government had purchased a record 12.22 lakh tonne of groundnut on Minimum Support Price (MSP) from 3.67 lakh farmers in the State in 2024-25. This purchase was worth ₹8,295 crore. Surprisingly, this government seeks similar purchases this year too. Moreover, the government has extended the last date for registration of farmers who are willing to sell their Kharif crop on MSP by one week that is around September 22. Predicting bumper groundnut production, the State government is expected to purchase groundnut, Moong, Urad and Soybean on MSP.