Pressing their demand for a dedicated promotion council for peanuts, the Saurashtra Oil Mills Association (SOMA) has represented to Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu to provide a support mechanism for the groundnut sector.

Facing a glut in groundnut, the trade body is exploring the possibility of pushing consumption of the oilseed. Peanut, according to the trade body, has wide-spread consumption prospects but due to the lack of coordinated efforts to promote consumption and value-addition, the industry is unable to reach the wider market.

Gujarat, the largest producer of groundnut, is projected to have nearly 27 lakh tonnes of groundnut crop for the year 2018-19. This is, however, lower than the previous year’s 32 lakh tonnes. SOMA has expressed its willingness to take the responsibility of promotions, but it looks up to the Centre for financial support in an organised way through a dedicated Peanut Promotion Council.

At a meeting with Union Minister for Commerce Suresh Prabhu in Gandhinagar last week, the trade body pressed for setting up of a dedicated promotion council.

“SOMA was invited to attend a very vital meeting with Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu in regards to some issues on export of peanuts and products. The Government is keen to enhance the exports of peanuts and related products. SOMA requested the Minister to enhance and introduce export incentives to the trade. We received a positive response and the discussion was very fruitful,” said Sameer Shah, President of the trade association.

According to SOMA, all oilmeals except groundnut meal have export incentives, hence exports are getting affected. As a result, prices remain unattractive for farmers.

As the market prices fell below the minimum support price (MSP) level, the State government implemented price support scheme (PSS) and so far has procured over 3 lakh tonnes of groundnut at MSP.

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