Situation outlook analysis of groundnut in India with special reference to Karnataka

This paper examines the sources of growth in groundnut in India and in Karnataka state. The area growth in groundnut in India and Karnataka is declining. The production growth in groundnut in India is declining but positive while in Karnataka, it is declining and negative. The productivity growth in groundnut in India is steadily increasing while in Karnataka state, it is declining and negative. The traditional groundnut growing areas in Karnataka are replaced by dry land crops like bajra and ragi due to intermittent drought in kharif season. The cost of seed being the major cost component, the farmers are not in a position to afford the loss due to crop failure. TMV-2 is the ruling variety occupied 85 per cent of the area whose average yields are much below the national average. This variety is prone to insect pests, cut worm and leaf minor, groundnut bud necrosis and late leaf spot diseases causing damage to the extent of 25 per cent of the total yield. The existing seed supply system is meeting 126 and 87 per cent of the seed requirement @ SRR of 22.51 and 28.82 per cent at all India and in state level. There is a need to strengthen the existing seed production and supply/distribution system for speedy multiplication of quality seeds of improved varieties of groundnut to the farmers. India has better comparative advantage in the production of groundnut as its export in physical and value terms is increasing from last decade. The groundnut kernels exported to more than 30 countries in both raw and roasted forms.