Gandhinagar: Gujarat has once again reaffirmed its dominance in groundnut cultivation and production, contributing more than 50 percent to India’s total output. The state has achieved the highest-ever sowing of groundnut over 22 lakh hectares this year, Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel announced.

He said Gujarat’s groundnut production is projected to reach a historic 66 lakh metric tonnes in 2025 — the highest in the state’s history and nearly three times more than the 22 lakh MT recorded in 2018-19.

“In the last few years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, groundnut cultivation in Gujarat has expanded significantly. This year’s sowing marks a 25 percent rise over the normal area under cultivation,” Patel stated.

The minister highlighted that last year alone, the state procured 12.22 lakh MT of groundnut worth ₹8,295 crore from more than 3.67 lakh farmers at minimum support price (MSP). Earlier, in 2020-21, over 2 lakh MT of groundnut worth ₹1,068 crore was purchased from 1 lakh farmers.

Patel attributed the steady rise in cultivation to higher MSPs, government procurement policies, better market prices, and the adoption of high-yielding varieties developed by agricultural universities and the Indian Groundnut Research Institute. Popular varieties such as Gujarat Groundnut-20, 23, 32, 39, and Girnar-4 are widely cultivated.

Groundnut, which plays a vital role in food and edible oil production, has been integral to Gujarat’s economy for more than 150 years, particularly in the Saurashtra region, often called the “Groundnut Capital.” Beyond oil and food use, groundnut shells are also utilized in animal feed, further adding to its economic significance.

“This year will mark a new milestone in Gujarat’s agricultural history, as the state sets a record in groundnut production,” Patel said.