Haryana eyes mover 35% jump in area under guar

Haryana, country's second-largest producer of guar, is eyeing over 35% increase in the crop area in the ongoing sowing season, even as spot prices of the crop continues to soar on account of less rainfall and higher demand overseas. 

The state is aiming to bring 3.50 lakh hectares under guar crop in the current season compared with 2.56 lakh hectares last season, a senior official of Haryana Agriculture Department said. The sowing of guar starts in June 15 and it goes on till July-end in Haryana. 

With projected increase in area under cultivation, 4 lakh tonne of guar produce is expected, which would be 20% more than last year's crop production. 

 

Area under guar in Haryana sharply dipped from 3.70 lakh hectares in 2008-09 to 2.52 lakh hectares in 2009-10, with farmers switching over to cotton crop for fetching better returns, experts said. Haryana had recorded one of the highest output figures of 6.02 lakh tonne in 2008-09. 

Haryana, which contributes almost 20% of total guar production in the country, grows guar in Sirsa, Bhiwani, Hisar, Jhajjar, Narnaul and other areas adjoining Rajasthan.

Guar is a raw material to produce guar gum. Gum is used as a thickening agent and additives in food products such as soups, sauces, milk and cheese products, processed meat products, etc. It is also used in the textile and paper industry.  

High demand and low rains have led to sharp rise in the prices of guar seed and guar gum, as rates of both commodities surged by over 20% in the last one and a half months.

"Growing demand for guar gum in overseas market like China, US has caused sharp rise in its rates. Moreover, lower rainfall in guar sowing areas have also fueled the prices," Vipin Aggarwal, a Sirsa-based guar gum trader, said.

Traders said if the rains continued to be scanty, the spot prices of guar seed and gum would soon touch Rs 4,500 per quintal and Rs 15,000 per quintal, respectively.

Currently, guar seed and guar gum rates hovered at Rs 4,100 and Rs 12,900 per quintal.