Groundnut farmer fair-cum-exhibition organised

1st October, 2018, Junagadh

Gujarat is one of the major groundnut growing states in India. Junagadh, Jamnagar, Amreli, Gir-Somnath, Rajkot districts of Saurashtra region contributes major groundnut producring area of the state and known as groundnut bowl of India. During the last decade, the groundnut area in the state oscillates between 15 to 20 lakh hectares and productivity ranges from 1200 to 3500 kg/ha depending on the monsoon. Suarastra region is the major hub for export of groundnut as well as oil expelling. Groundnut cultivation is fully mechanized in this region and the crop is being grown as major kharif crop besides cotton.

To sensitise the groundnut farmers of this region on the modern cultivation practices and expose to the new production technologies, the ICAR-Directorate of Groundnut Research, Junagarh  in collaboration with NFSM, organised a ‘Groundnut farmer fair-cum-exhibition’ here today

Dr. A. R. Pathak, Vice Chancellor, Junagadh Agricultural University, in his inaugural address urged the groundnut farmers to adopt new improved varieties, crop production and protection practices besides intercropping/ crop rotations to make the groundnut cultivation more sustainable and profitable.  

Dr. R K Mathur, Director, Indian Institute of Oil Palm, Pedavegi highlighted the need for enhancing the edible oil production in the country.

Dr. Manoranjan Dutta, Advisor, NFSM had briefed about various schemes and supports extended by the Government to the farmers for doubling their farm income. He also emphasisied for higher production of groundnut to meet out ever increasing oil demand of India. 

Dr. Radhakrishnan, Director, ICARDGR has urged the farmers to adopt the improved production technologies and further mechanization to make the groundnut cultivation more remunerative.

Publications in local language on the integrated white grub control, management of micronutrient deficiencies, Aflatoxin management, storage pest management in groundnut and health benefits of groundnut were distributed to the farmers. 

Progressive farmers and Sarpanch from different villages adopted by the ICAR-DGR under Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav programme shared their experiences on controlling of white grub as per technological interventions extended by the ICAR-DGR.

An exhibition was put up by Junagadh Agricultural University, Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Gujarat, ATMA, Junagadh, NGOs, and dealers of agricultural implements, inputs, irrigation systems and accessories wherein they exhibited their technologies and materials.

More than 800 farmers from the different villages of  Junagadh, Gir-Somnath, Amreli and Rajkot had attended the mela.

(Source: ICAR-Directorate of Groundnut Research, Junagarh)