Guar traders anticipate higher seed production despite lower acreage

Despite registering lower acreage of guar this season, gum traders are optimistic of attaining higher production.

Guar gum traders maintained, despite shortage of area, timely rains in September would assist the productivity of the crop, thus raising its output prospects. As per guar traders, guar seed production this year is estimated to be 1.4 million tonnes (14 million bags) compared to 1.2 million tonnes (12 million bags) last year, thus reflecting increase of 16 per cent.

Guar is mainly a rain- fed crop, sown in July with the commencement of monsoon. Being a rain-fed crop, guar seed production is linked to the rains.

 

P K Hissaria, president, Indian Guar Gum Manufacturers' Association, said the overall crop condition was good this year. P K Hissaria who had earlier predicted a 17 per cent rise in guar gum exports this year from 300,000 tonnes last year, remained optimistic that exports this year would cross the 300,000-mark.

“With certain new areas in Rajasthan preferring sowing of guar gum seed and good crop conditions would definitely boost the prospects for good guar crop this year,” he said.

Prices of guar this season has seen an upward trend compared to previous year. As per Kedia , farmers in Haryana this year are fetching Rs 45 per kg for guar gum seeds compared to Rs 25-30 per kg last year.

Rajesh Kedia , a guar gum exporter based in Haryana, maintained, despite acreage under ‘guar’ declining by 10 per cent this year, the production has increased by 20 per cent, mainly because of favourable weather conditions. Rains , particularly in the month of September, have helped boosting the production prospects of the crop.

In Rajasthan, 2,757,000 hectares of area was covered under guar this season compared to 3,000,000 hectare area achieved last year. Similarly, in Haryana the sown area under guar this year is 215,000, compared to 256,000 hectares. Rajasthan and Haryana together account for more than 50 per cent of the acreage for the guar crop.

Deficient monsoons in Haryana and also area under cotton rising at the cost of guar seed in some pockets of Haryana are the prime factors responsible for falling guar seed acreage in Haryana.

Things on the export side also continue to be stable as per the traders.

Export demand of guar gum this season is stable compared to last year. The demand for guar gum however is likely to pick up in coming months mainly from industrial sector.