Gujarat’s groundnut crop stays flat despite expansion in acreage

Gujarat’s kharif groundnut harvest for 2025–26 is expected to remain unchanged at around 46 lakh tonnes, even as farmers expanded acreage this year. Erratic weather conditions — from mid-season dryness to heavy late rains — have offset gains in cultivation, keeping output flat, according to estimates from the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA).

Gujarat’s kharif groundnut output for 2025–26 is likely to hold steady at around 46 lakh tonnes, according to the latest estimates by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA). The numbers come as a bit of a surprise — farmers sowed more groundnut than ever this season, but the larger area hasn’t translated into a bigger harvest.

The SEA’s Groundnut Promotion Council, which conducted a detailed field survey across Saurashtra, India’s groundnut heartland — found that the area under cultivation has grown by almost three lakh hectares compared to last year. But yields have slipped from about 2,210 kg per hectare to 2,090 kg per hectare, cancelling out the benefits of higher acreage.

The drop, according to the SEA, has everything to do with the weather. Gujarat saw a dry spell between mid-July and mid-August, a critical stage for the crop, followed by heavy rains just as plants began flowering and setting pods. Those erratic patterns took a toll on productivity across key districts, particularly Amreli, Bhavnagar, Dwarka, Junagadh, and Gir Somnath.

In contrast, districts like Rajkot and Jamnagar managed to fare slightly better, benefiting from more balanced rainfall. Even so, the overall production picture has remained flat — almost identical to last year’s revised estimate of 46 lakh tonnes.

For a state that accounts for nearly 40% of India’s groundnut production, the stagnant output comes at an important time. The industry had been expecting a bumper crop to ease supply pressures in the edible oil market, where India still depends heavily on imports.

While the shortfall isn’t severe, it’s a reminder of how fragile yields can be in the face of changing weather patterns. Analysts say that improving irrigation access, promoting drought-tolerant seed varieties, and investing in better soil and crop management will be key to sustaining productivity in the coming years.

Despite the setback, farmers’ enthusiasm for groundnut remains strong — proof that the crop still holds promise as a reliable source of income for Gujarat’s agricultural economy.

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FAQs

1. What is Gujarat’s projected groundnut output for 2025–26?
Gujarat’s kharif groundnut production is expected to remain around 46 lakh tonnes, similar to last year, despite increased cultivation area.

2. Why hasn’t increased acreage translated into higher output?
Erratic weather — a dry spell during mid-July to mid-August followed by heavy rains during flowering and pod-setting — reduced per-hectare yields, offsetting gains from expanded sowing.

3. Which districts performed better or worse this season?
Rajkot and Jamnagar are likely to see marginal yield gains, while Amreli, Bhavnagar, Dwarka, Junagadh, and Gir Somnath faced lower productivity due to localized weather disturbances.

4. How does Gujarat’s production affect India’s edible oil market?
Gujarat accounts for nearly 40% of India’s groundnut production, so stagnant output could influence domestic edible oil availability and price trends, especially for groundnut oil.

5. What measures could improve future yields?
Enhancing irrigation facilities, promoting drought-resistant seed varieties, and adopting modern crop management practices are key strategies to stabilize and increase production in coming seasons.