| Groundnut shell production
during kharif season is unlikely to exceed 45 lakh tonnes
going by the latest available acreage and crop progress
reports from various regions. This would be at least 8
lakh ton lower than the 53 lakh ton harvested during kharif
2003 as estimated by the trade.
Currently, some of the areas, especially in Gujarat,
are facing the threat of excessive rains, according
to scientists monitoring the crop progress.
``Bright daylight is the need of the day as continued
cloud cover and lack of sunshine creates conditions
conducive to pest attack,'' they averred.
Widespread and continual rainfall has occurred since
the end of July in almost all regions of the country,
bringing tremendous relief to farmers who were facing
the spectre of drought following a four-week long dry
spell from end-June.
Acreage for groundnut crop is estimated at about 55-56
lakh hectares. There is no likelihood of any fresh sowing
of groundnut crop. Weather aberrations are likely to
affect yields which even otherwise are less than one
tonne per hectare.
Assuming normal weather from now on, the copious August
rains are expected to brighten the prospects for rabi
(summer harvest) planting.
The country typically harvests 15-17 lakh ton of groundnut
in-shell during rabi season (March/April).
Attempts should be made to increase the area for Rabi
groundnut which can to some extent make up for the loss
during the kharif season, experts pointed out adding
that productivity enhancement in oilseeds is indeed
a daunting task and it calls for a large measure of
non-price and non-trade initiatives.
Source: Business
Line, August 22' 2004 |
