Guar acreage may rise on overseas demand

Guar acreage is likely to rise this year as farmers received high remunerative prices for the crop last season and rising demand abroad for guar derivatives, though farm officials project conservative figures.

The sowing will commence from the first week of July with onset of monsoon in the northern parts of country. Rajasthan and Haryana together account for 80 per cent of guar production and 70 per cent of total acreage. Farm officials in Rajasthan are targeting 2.7 million hectares this year under guar, while in Haryana, the target area is 300,000 hectares.

G C Mathur, joint director (input), Rajasthan agriculture department, said the targets set for kharif crops was based on anticipation of a normal monsoon.

P K Hissaria, president, Indian Guar Gum Manufacturing Association said, “We expect the area under guar in Haryana and Rajasthan to increase compared to the previous year.”

Rajesh Kedia, director, Jai Bharat and Chemical Ltd, which exports guar derivatives, said farmers in Haryana were getting Rs 3,200-3,500 a quintal as against the normal price of Rs 2,000-2,200 a quintal.

Traders believe higher prices of guar would encourage more farmers to join the trend, thereby increasing the acreage. The higher prices for guar crop are attributed to a rise in demand for guar derivatives from exporting countries.

India is the biggest exporter of these derivatives. Kedia maintained there had been a rise in demand for guar derivatives in export markets this year. The demand is 40-50 per cent more compared to previous year.