Groundnut Value Research Articles

ASSESSMENT OF SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND CONSTRAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH GROUNDNUT PRODUCTION AND POST-HARVEST VALUEADDITION AMONG FARMERS IN GOMBE STATE

The study was conducted to assess sources of information and constraints associated with groundnut production and post-harvest value-addition among farmers in Gombe State, Nigeria. Multistage, purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select a sample size of 159 respondents. Data collected using a structured questionnaire were analyzed. Descriptiveand inferential statistical tools like frequency, percentages and logistic regression were used for analysis. The result showed that 43.4% of the respondents had Grade 11/ Secondary education About 43% had household size of 5 -10 persons and 34.6% had farming experience of 6 -10 years. About 71% of the respondents had annual income of less than ₦100,000 from sales of groundnut and its products per annum. Result on skills acquired on value-addition of groundnut production and processing shows that 30.2% of the respondents acquired skills on toasting peanut. Result on products obtained from processing groundnut shows that 61.6% obtained oil as their product. The study concludes that if farmers’ level of education and experience areincrease there will be increase in value-addition. Based on the findings, it is recommended that skills on groundnut value –chain should be taught to the farmers by the extension agents and government agencies.

A Review of the Status of the Groundnut Production and Export of India

Groundnut as “King of Oilseeds” is one of the third largest oilseed produced in the world and second largest in India. India is the largest cultivator of groundnut crop in world in terms of acreage, low yields kept her in the second place in terms of output. China is the single largest producer as well as consumer of groundnut in the world. Area under groundnut crop declined in recent 6 years with 3.37 per cent growth rate due to increase in area under its main kharif competitor crop cotton. Production and yield increased with 4.68 and 6.51 per cent growth rate annually. Gujarat is the leading producer (50 per cent of total production) of best quality groundnut followed by Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. Major exporters are India, which accounts for 36 per cent of world exports followed by USA, Argentina and China. During last decade groundnut export quantity and value was increased with 14.26 and 24.87 per cent growth rate annually. India's major export destinations are Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, UAE, Philippines and Thailand. In the year 2011–12, the export quantity and value was highest after that due to poor quality issues (presence of aflatoxin content) the export was declined in next subsequent 3 years. So, there is a need to focus on quality of Groundnut as many importing countries are applying stringent norms regarding quality standards.