Kharif groundnut output may decline up to 2.5 lakh tons

NEW DELHI: Groundnut production in the country may decline by 2-2.5 lakh tons during the kharif season owing to inadequate rainfall in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, marketmen say. "Deficient rainfall in the southern producing states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh caused a reduction in acreage to 50.28 lakh hectares from 51.52 lakh hectares in kharif 2007. This will result in a slight fall in production to 50 lakh tons from 52 lakh tons last year," Bajoria Fats and Proteins Director Sandeep Bajoria told PTI.

This year the area covered under groundnut in Andhra Pradesh stood at 13.94 lakh hectares against 14.46 lakh hectares last year, while in Karnataka it is 5.99 lakh hectares compared with 7.13 a year ago, according to Central Organisation for Oil Industry and Trade (COOIT).

According to Govindbhai G Patel, the former president of Solvent Extractor Association of India, the crop position in Gujarat looks good this year due to good rainfall till now in the state, with sowing completed in 17.90 lakh hectares. Last year, the total area under groundnut in Gujarat was 16.67 lakh hectares, he added.

Patel said groundnut crop in the states still depends on two more spells of rainfall, one during September five and another in either end of September or beginning of October, for a good output. Even if there is surplus production in Gujarat, the weak position in the southern states will keep the total output marginally less than last year, he added.

According to official estimate, India produced 74.8 lakh tons in kharif and 18.8 lakh tons during the Rabi season of 2007-08.