Peanut acreage increased in Gujarat - cotton sowing weak

24-Jul-2024 10:39 AM

Ahmedabad. Due to good monsoon rains in Gujarat, an important agricultural producing state located in the western part of the country, the pace of sowing of Kharif crops has increased. There are indications of increase in peanut acreage and decrease in cotton acreage.

Although the price of peanut is running around Rs 6000 per quintal this time as compared to Rs 6250 per quintal in the 2022-23 season, yet farmers are showing good interest in the cultivation of this important oilseed crop. 

The latest data released by the Gujarat Agriculture Directorate shows that the peanut production area in the state has increased to 18.28 lakh hectares till July 22, 2024, which is about 2 lakh hectares more than the total sowing area of ​​16.35 lakh hectares last year.

It is worth noting that peanut sowing in Gujarat can continue for two-three weeks, which will increase its area even more. It is worth noting that Gujarat is the largest producer of both groundnut and cotton in the country.

During the current Kharif season, the groundnut sowing area there has reached above the normal average area of ​​17.51 ​​lakh hectares of the last three years. 

This is the first occasion after the year 2021 when the groundnut area in Gujarat has reached above 18 lakh hectares.

According to the available data, the groundnut production area in Gujarat was recorded at 16.98 lakh hectares in the Kharif season of 2019, 21.62 lakh hectares in 2020, 18.97 lakh hectares in 2021 and 17.63 lakh hectares in 2022. 

As far as cotton is concerned, its production area could reach only 22.34 lakh hectares till July 22, which is far behind last year's sowing area of ​​26.24 lakh hectares and the three-year normal average area of ​​24.95 lakh hectares.

Peanut and cotton are cultivated on a large scale in 11 districts of Saurashtra division. The peanut or cotton acreage there has increased from 12.58 lakh hectares last year to 14.55 lakh hectares this time.