The Government is currently reviewing the ASEAN Agreement for renewal
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, 26 October, 2023: In the current Kharif season, in Gujarat the Groundnut sowing reported at 33.45 lakh tones compared to 30.00 lakh tones last year up by 11.50% (3.35 lakh tones) despite decrease in acreage by 74000 Hecter (4.33%)
Groundnut is one of the major crops in kharif season and Gujarat is the prominent state growing groundnut. Since last 14 years, SEA Groundnut Promotion Council is conducting the Groundnut crop survey to assess the size and quality of the Groundnut crop for the benefit of the members and the industry at large.
This year under leadership of Vinod Patel and Rajesh Ankola, and Dr. B. V. Mehta, Executive Director, SEA; a 17 members team, visited the leading groundnut producing districts in Saurashtra during 20th to 22nd October 2023. SEA team visited number of farms in various districts of Saurashtra and random samples were drawn from Groundnut fields and counting of the pods, size and distance between two rows were studied. Maturity and the quality of the pods were also studied. By applying scientific matrix, the per hectare yields were arrived at from each field and arrived estimate of Groundnut production.
1. Methodology :
The following information were collected from each farmers visited and were considered while arriving at the yield and crop size :-
a. What is the size of cultivated land under groundnut crop as compare to previous year cultivated land?
b. How prepare the soil for groundnut planting?
c. Which variety of groundnut crops are currently cultivating?
d. What spacing do you maintain between two rows of groundnuts?
e. Which irrigation methods employ by farmer and How frequently do you irrigate the groundnuts?
f. Farmers have faced any specific pest issues recently?
g. What is the overall health of groundnut crops?
h. Farmers are observe any visible signs of diseases or nutritional deficiencies?
i. Farmers are cultivating multiple crops (Intercrop) in the same field or not?
j. What are farmers thoughts on the yield of his groundnut crops and the condition of neighboring farms?
k. The yield was primarily assessed by considering the number of pods and their weight from a specified area of the groundnut field, in addition to insights provided by the farmers.
Throughout the survey, the team visited various farms across different regions.
2. Meetings were arranged with Farmers, Oil Millers, S.E. Units, HPS Manufacturers, Traders, Commission Agents, Brokers, etc. in various places in Saurashtra including at Gondal, Amreli, Junagadh, Keshod, Mangrol, Porbandar and Advana during 20th to 22nd October 2023. The crop prospects and their expectations of the crop and other details were discussed in the meetings. Deliberation in each meeting was quite interesting and informative.
3. Acreage Data :
As per Gujarat Government in current year 2023-24, kharif Groundnut crop sown in 16.35 lakh ha down by 74,000 ha (4.33%) from 17.09 lakh ha in 2022-23 due to shift in acreage from groundnut to Cotton, soybean and other crops.
In current year 2023-24, all India Groundnut Kharif acreage reported at 43.91 Lakh ha compared to 45.54 lakh ha last year, down by 1.62 lakh ha.
In Gujarat, average yield per hectare raised to 2045 Kg. per hectare against 1755 Kg. per hectare up by 16.52%. In June/ July heavy rains & conservations water helped the farmers to overcome dry spell in August by ways of irrigation.
Gujarat is expected to harvest 33.45 lakh tons during kharif season, which is up by 11.50 % compared to last year 30.00 lakh tons in Gujarat in spite of lower acreage by 4.33%.
In North Gujarat, the current arrival is at pick, since farmers in this area prefer to sell as soon as crop is harvested and do not hold for long time.
In Gujarat, area under Soybean increased to 2.66 lakh ha from 2.22 lakh ha last year. Farmers find in case of Soybean crop input cost is low, less hazard from animals and do not depend upon labor as harvesting is mechanized saves a lot for them. In view of this Soybean area is expanding year to year in Gujarat.
Current Groundnut MSP is Rs.6,379 per quintal while current Mandi price of good quality (FAQ) being quoted near MSP between Rs. 6,250/6,500.
The 60th-Year Celebration and Awards Function of SEA, was recently held in Mumbai, which was a prestigious event attended by over 600 members, including guests, speakers, and invitees from India and abroad. The ceremony featured a video message from Chief Guest, Nitin Gadkari the Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India.
Distinguished dignitaries, including Sanjeev Chopra, IAS, Secretary (F&PD), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India; Dr. Jerry Sambuaga , Vice Minister of Trade, Indonesia; Dr. Ir. Musdhalifah Machmud, M.T., Deputy Minister for Food and Agribusiness Coordination, Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Indonesia; Pasha Patel, Former Chairman, Maharashtra Agriculture Cost & Price Commission; Nadir B. Godrej, Chairman & Managing Director, Godrej Industries Ltd; Dorab Mistry, Director, Godrej International Ltd., graced the event. Their insightful addresses enriched and enlightened the attending delegates, contributing to the ceremony's success.
Challenges Posed by Increased Imports Import of edible oils during the first eleven months of the oil year (November 2022 to September 2023) has surged to 155 lakh tonnes and is expected to exceed 165-167 lakh tonnes for the entire oil year 2022-23. This increase of 25-27 lakh tonnes from the previous year is driven by the current low 5.5% duty on crude palm oil, soybean oil, and sunflower oil. This influx of imports has transformed India into a prime destination for excess oil supplies. Notably, RBD Palmolein imports constitute over 25% of the total palm oil imports, significantly impacting the refining industry, which is grappling with a significant underutilization of its installed capacity.
Signing MoU with POCA
The Association, has signed an MoU with the Palm Oil Crushing Mills Association of Thailand during SEA's 60th-Anniversary Celebration for closer cooperation in areas of common interest related to vegetable oils. Sanjeev Asthana, Vice President, has also signed a Declaration to sign MoU at a later date with ABIOVE.
ASEAN Agreement:
The Government is currently reviewing the ASEAN Agreement for renewal. The Ministry of Commerce recently held a meeting with stakeholders on 11th October 2023 to discuss their views. We emphasized the need for a provision for "Bilateral Safeguard Duty" in the revised ASEAN agreement to facilitate the imposition of additional duty when excessive imports harm the domestic industry. We also highlighted the necessity to regulate / restrict the post-imposition of export duty, levies, and cess by exporting countries to ensure a level playing field for both sides.
