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Area under groundnut is expected to decline by 5-7 per cent in Saurashtra, popularly known as India’s groundnut bowl, in the current kharif season due to the farmers opting for cotton as it is more economically viable, an industry body said.
“We expect the area under groundnut in Saurashtra to go down by 5-7 per cent in this season (kharif) as farmers are turning towards cotton as it would fetch them better returns,” Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) Executive Director Mr B V Mehta told PTI.
According to the government data, area under groundnut declined by 43 per cent to 4.44 lakh hectares for the week ended June 23, as against 7.79 lakh hectares in the year-ago period. Cotton has been sown in 26.22 lakh hectares so far in the current kharif season, the data said.
“But this time the area under soyabean and castor seed is expected to rise due to their growing demand,” Mr Mehta added.
Area under soyabean has risen by 15 per cent to 1.18 lakh hectares so far, compared to 1.03 lakh hectares in the year-ago period, according to the government data.
Castor, whose oil is used in food additives and medicines, has been sown in 0.72 lakh hectares up till now, it added.
Mr Mehta said a clearer picture would emerge in the next 10-12 days when monsoon is expected to reach further into the Indian mainland and sowing is in full swing.
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