Synopsis
Gujarat has procured 10 lakh MT of groundnuts for Rs 6,700 crore from 298 lakh farmers, as stated by Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel. The government is ensuring timely payments and supporting farmers through attractive MSPs.Key Takeaways
- Gujarat procured 10 lakh MT of groundnuts.
- Payments of Rs 5,172 crore made to farmers.
- Record groundnut cultivation of 18.80 lakh hectares.
- Support price for groundnuts set at Rs 6,783 per quintal.
- Exports increased by 2% in 2023-2024.
Gandhinagar, Jan 28 (NationPress) Gujarat has successfully acquired 10 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of groundnuts from 298 lakh farmers at the minimum support price (MSP), as declared by the state Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel.
"Currently, over 2.98 lakh farmers have sold 10 lakh metric tonnes of groundnuts valued at Rs 6,700 crore, signifying a remarkable milestone," Patel stated.
The Minister further detailed that the government is dedicated to ensuring all registered farmers receive prompt payments, with Rs 5,172 crore disbursed to 2.32 lakh farmers for groundnuts, and Rs 210 crore to 17,000 farmers for soybeans.
"Over 51,400 metric tonnes of soybeans, amounting to Rs 252 crore, have been procured from more than 20,500 farmers," he mentioned.
The soybean procurement has been conducted at a support price of Rs 4,892 per quintal (Rs 978.40 per mann), which is significantly above the market rate, motivating farmers to enroll in the procurement initiative.
"The procurement process for all registered farmers throughout Gujarat is set to be concluded by February 8," Patel added.
The state's agricultural sector has reaped substantial benefits from the support price established by the Central government, with over 3.72 lakh farmers signing up for the groundnut procurement program.
The support price for groundnuts was established at Rs 6,783 per quintal (Rs 1,356.60 per mann), providing farmers with an enticing price to sell their abundant crops without reluctance.
The Agriculture Minister highlighted that this year's groundnut cultivation reached a record 18.80 lakh hectares, an increase of 2.5 lakh hectares compared to last year.
This production growth has been fueled by the favorable support prices, which were announced prior to the planting season, allowing farmers to strategize effectively.
In the 2023-2024 period, India exported 47 shipments of groundnut kernels originating from Gujarat, reflecting a 2 percent increase compared to the previous year.
These exports were facilitated by 10 Indian exporters to 21 buyers, with the leading three importers being Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, together accounting for 85 percent of total exports.
Gujarat contributes approximately 42 percent of India’s overall groundnut production.
During the 2017-2018 timeframe, India exported 5.04 lakh tonnes of groundnuts valued at Rs 3,386 crore, highlighting the substantial economic influence of groundnut exports.
