GROUNDNUT

Groundnut is a good source of edible oil as it contains about 50% oil of good quality. Groundnut oil is one of the best cooking oils due to its high smoking point and is desirable for use in ghee, margarine, shortening and salad oil. The meal contains 25 % protein and considered best meal for human consumption and livestock feed. Groundnut is also an excellent source of vitamins and contains high levels of thiamine, riboflavin and niacin.

Area, Production and Yield

Groundnut is a major cash crop of the barani area and is a good source of edible oil as it contains about 50% oil of good quality. It was grown on an area of 92,800 ha with a production of 85,500 tones and yield of 921 kg/ha during 2008-09.

 Province wise area, production and yield of groundnut in Pakistan

Source:  Agric. Statistics of Pakistan, 2008-09

Potential Areas of Groundnut

Punjab    =              Attock, Rawalpindi, Jehlum, Chakwal, Khushab, Mianwali and Bahawalpur

Sindh      =              Sanghar and Sukkur

NWFP    =              Swabi, Kohat, Karak D.I. Khan and Malakand division

Varieties of groundnut developed by Oilseeds Research Program, NARC

Varieties of groundnut developed under NUYT System

Seed Production

Currently no organization is producing the groundnut seed commercially. A limited quantity of pure seed of improved varieties is being produced/multiplied by PARC and BARI, Chakwal for distribution and commercial production to the groundnut growers. To meet the demand the on small scale we have Identified and introduced master growers for the production of pure seed of improved cultivars. They are producing and selling their own seed commercial.

Impact on Productivity and National Economy

Newly developed groundnut varieties and improved package of technology is being adopted on an area of 20,000 acres which is about 8-10 % of the total groundnut area in the country. This is contributing 4000 tons extra production of pods worth Rs. 60 million annually to the agrarian economy. The area under these varieties is increasing every  year.

Utilization and Marketing of Groundnut

Presently groundnuts are eaten as roasted nuts in the shell. A very small amount of the produce is used for confectionery purposes. Few traditional dishes utilize groundnut and no oil is produced from groundnuts on a commercial scale. The overall market for groundnuts is limited. Therefore, any increase in production will result in a decrease in groundnut prices unless alternative markets are encouraged. These potential  markets are production of groundnut oil for edible purposes and export, production of peanut butter, and other confectionery items. A pilot groundnut  oil crushing project indicated that at the current high price of groundnuts the oil would not be priced competitively with vegetable ghee produced from cottonseed and imported oils. Groundnuts has no support price mechanism and the price fluctuates widely each year. To encourage groundnut production and domestic groundnut crushing for oil, a support price and guaranteed market will be required.

PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

Soil: Sandy loam soil is the best. Can be grown in clay soils but pod development is effected     

Seedbed Preparation:                       2 – 3 ploughings followed by planking

Planting Time:                                   Mid April in fallow land in rainfed areas

                                                          After wheat at the onset of monsoon

                                                          Mid March in irrigated areas

Seed Rate:                                         Bunch type                     =              100 kg/ha kernels

                                                          Spreading type                =              75 kg/ha kernels

Method of Planting:                           Row x  plant spacing       =              45 x 10 cm   (Bunch types)

                                                                                                =              60 x 10 cm (Spreading type)

Fertilizers:                                          Nitrogen                         =              20 kg/ha

                                                           Phosphorus (P₂O₅)         =              80 kg/ha

                                                           Potassium (K)                =              100 kg/ha (in sandy soils)

                                                           Gypsum                         =              500 kg/ha (apply at peg formation)

Weed Control:                                    Grasses and small          =              Stomp @ 2-3 l/ha

                                                           Seeded weeds                               (pre-emergence)

Harvesting:                                         When 75% of pods are mature, harvest the crop.

                                                           Delay in harvest will cause pod losses

Use of Machinery:                               Use available groundnut machines for planting, digging

                                                           and threshing to decrease cost of production.

Storage:                                              Dry the groundnut upto 10% moisture

                                                           Grading of pods for good market price

                                                            Put in clean jute bags and store in dry storage room

Focal Person:

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