Groundnut, gingelly prices to remain stable till May

Coimbatore, Apr 10. Prices of groundnut and gingelly, sown during January/February under irrigated conditions, will remain stable till May, according to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU). The econometric analysis and market surveys by TNAU's Domestic Export Marketing Intelligence Cell revealed that farmers could get a price of Rs 32 to Rs 34 per kg of ground nut pod at Sevur Regulated Market in Tirupur district and Rs 31 to Rs 33 at Tindivanam Regulated Market. The relatively higher prices for pod in Sevur was mainly due to the fact that it goes for making toffees, while the Tindivanam crop is for oil purpose, it said. Groundnut is cultivated in 3.85 lakh hectares, producing 10.60 lakh tonnes with an average yield of 2,751 kg per hectare in Tamil Nadu, where it is sown in July-August and Jan-Feb. Gingelly farmers would get Rs 92 to Rs 94 per kg in the review period, the analysis by the cell on prices prevailing for the last 14 years in Shivagiri Regulated Market revealed. Gingelly production was around 26,447 tonnes from 43,175 hectares during 2011-12 in the state, DEMIC said.