Now Reading: Groundnut acreage up 9% as farmers in UP, MP expand area
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Groundnut acreage up 9% as farmers in UP, MP expand area
Groundnut acreage in the ongoing kharif season has risen nearly 9 per cent to 46.82 lakh hectares as of August 7, from 43.11 lakh hectares a year ago, according to Agriculture Ministry…
The Story in Brief
Groundnut acreage in the ongoing kharif season has risen nearly 9 per cent to 46.82 lakh hectares as of August 7, from 43.11 lakh hectares a year ago, according to Agriculture Ministry data. Farmers in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan expanded cultivation after widespread monsoon rains and last year's government procurement at the minimum support price (MSP).
The sharpest increase was in UP, where acreage rose 78 per cent to 4.71 lakh hectares, while MP saw a 40 per cent jump. This offset declines in Gujarat, the largest producer, where acreage fell 3.1 per cent, and Karnataka, down 44 per cent due to rainfall deficits. The all-India wholesale price has eased from Rs 7,333 per quintal in mid-July to around Rs 7,073, reflecting improved crop prospects, BusinessLine reports.
The Indian Opinion
The acreage jump looks like a clear win for MSP and monsoon, but two risks lurk. First, the expansion is concentrated in non-traditional states like UP and MP, where yields and procurement infrastructure are unproven. Second, Gujarat's decline, still the largest producer, could pinch if rains falter there. The real test will not come until September: will Nafed extend its MSP buying to the new belts, or will prices crash after harvest?
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
