Farmers' Interest in Peanut Sowing Remains Strong

17-Jul-2025 03:37 PM

New Delhi. Farmers are showing strong interest in sowing peanuts this year, driven by an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and favorable weather and monsoon conditions in major producing states. As a result, the area under peanut cultivation at the national level is nearly 5 lakh hectares more than the same period last year.

By July 11, the total sown area had reached 33 lakh hectares, compared to 28 lakh hectares during the same time last year. While this is still below the five-year average of 45.10 lakh hectares, sowing is expected to continue through the rest of July and into early August, which may help the acreage reach or surpass the normal average.

Major peanut-producing states include Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. Andhra Pradesh, particularly the Rayalaseema region and Anantapur district, also contributes significantly to production.

According to the latest data, during the current Kharif season:

• In Gujarat, peanut acreage rose from 17.23 lakh hectares to 18.51 lakh hectares (as of July 14),

• In Rajasthan, it increased from 7.27 lakh hectares to 8.79 lakh hectares (as of July 16),

• In Karnataka, the area grew from 1.17 lakh hectares to 1.68 lakh hectares (as of July 11).

The central government raised the MSP for peanuts by ₹480 per quintal—from ₹6,783 for the 2024–25 season to ₹7,263 per quintal for the 2025–26 season—which has further encouraged farmers to expand cultivation.