Anantapur yet to produce export quality groundnuts

Anantapur: The farmers of the district identified with the brand name of 'groundnut district' are yet to come to terms with producing export quality nuts and in making value added products including peanut butter, juices, chocolate nuts and bars which are consumed by the western consumers due to their high protein value and taste. The single district is cultivating groundnut in 10 lakh acres with more than 7 lakh farmers and their families having livelihood stakes in it.

Farmers cultivating groundnut for nearly 60 years have not been exposed to modern ways of its exploitation including producing value-added products which are in great demand in the western countries and Europe.

Joint Director of Agriculture S Srinivasa Rao told The Hans India that for exporting peanuts to countries abroad, export quality seed need to be sown and the district being a rain-fed region is not fit for cultivating export-worthy variety groundnut. Only in assured irrigated conditions can such a crop be raised, he added.

The groundnut or peanut crop is known in the west has its roots in Brazil in South America. It is not an Indian plant species and much less of Telugu origin but interestingly the people of Anantapur district have owned the crop linking their destiny with the crop despite all the challenges of erratic monsoon being faced by the local farmers.

Yet, a district that is contributing significantly to national and world production does not have agro-industries for producing value added products including peanuts butter which is popular in the west.

According to agriculture scientist John Sudheer, who spoke to The Hans India the chord that binds the farmers of the district with groundnut is about 60 years old. About 45 years ago, it used to be 80% cereals and 20% groundnut.

Today, it is 80% groundnut and 20% other crops. The agricultural demography of the district has changed over the years with the farmers shifting from cultivation of cereals to groundnut.

“The awareness and concern for quality amongst the Indian groundnut sellers and processors are growing steadily. Multiple sorting and grading are fast becoming a norm. Indian manufacturers have the capability to prepare and supply edible peanuts conforming to highest standards.

Apart from raw edible peanuts, India’s Blanched Peanuts, Roasted Salted Peanuts and Dry Roasted Peanuts and a variety of peanut based products are popular in the western market,” stated Roshan Lal, a groundnut trader from Bengaluru.

The country has exported 8.08 lakh metric tonnes of groundnuts to the world worth of Rs 5,675.35 crore during the year 2017-18 year. Peanuts and peanut butter became an integral part of the armed forces rations in World Wars I and II. It is believed that the US army popularised the peanut butter and jelly sandwich for their sustenance during World War II.