With the demand for guar gum on the rise in domestic and international markets, farmers’ groups have started cultivating guar crop in over 1,000 acres in central Maharashtra. The first crop is expected to be harvested early October.

Over 750 farmers in Maharashtra, belonging to about 100 groups in the Jalna district, have now come together to collectively sow, harvest and market the crop.

Jalna has a dry climate, best suited for guar cultivation.

Indian Council for Agriculture Research-supported Kisna Vikas Kendra has taken a lead in helping the farmers.

Guar gum is derived from the endosperm — a soft tissue — enclosed in guarseed.

The seed is dehusked, milled and screened to obtain gum, which is India's top agri export commodity.

The gum is used in shale oil and gas extraction apart from other industrial applications. Due to the boom in the shale gas industry, especially in the US, demand for the gum has increased considerably over the past five years. Rajasthan produces almost 90 per cent of the crop.

Agriculture Coordinator for the Kisna Vikas Kendra in Jalna S.V. Sonune told Business Line that the idea of planting guar emerged from last year’s drought in the district. This year, he said, the farmers decided to experiment with guar as the crop is not water intensive, is hardy and fetches a good price in the market.

Sonune said that in some areas of the district, planting had already commenced and, by mid-July, about 1,000 acres would be covered.

Cost control

The seeds had been bought in bulk from Rajasthan, which helped control the input cost. After harvest, guarseed would again be sold collectively to processors, so that the farmers can get good returns, he added.

From an acre of farmland, about 400 kg of guarseed can be harvested, Sonune said. Therefore, by October, Jalna would be able to supply about 400 tonnes.

>rahul.wadke@thehindu.co.in

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