Export Of Hps Groundnuts At A Record 90,000 Tonnes

In volume terms, this is the second largest export of HPS groundnut by the association in the last 15 years.

Mulraj Tanna, chairman of Indian Oil & Produce Exporters' Association, said the exports valued at Rs 207 crore had been the highest so far.

Speaking at the association's annual general meeting, he said India's share of 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes in the international peanut market has reached a plateau, when the world demand for peanuts was growing at about five per cent a year.

India's exports have to grow faster to garner a decent share in the world peanut market, he said.

 

Tanna said for the third successive year, aggregate export of commodities under IOPEA's purview, namely, HPS groundnut, sesame seed, safflower seed, sunflower seed and rapeseed/mustard crossed 100,000 tonnes.

During 1995-96, the association members effected record exports of 1,63,000 tonnes of oilseeds valued at Rs 422 crore compared with 1,07,000 tonnes valued at Rs 240 crore in the previous period.

He said the commerce ministry has acknowledged the HPS groundnut and sesame seed as the principal commodities to have registered an increase in dollar terms during 1995-96.

In Gujarat, kharif groundnut crop is said to be in critical condition.

According to reports, moisture-stress condition caused by lack of precipitation during the last four weeks has affected pod formation in several areas of Saurashtra.

Tanna warned board members that a lot of care has to be taken in preparing HPS groundnut kernels for export.

Reports from the south indicate a normal crop aggregating 30 lakh tonnes in-shell in the three southern states - AP(1,40,000 tonnes), TN(9,00,000 tonnes) and Karnataka (7,00,0000 tonnes).

He told board members their focus should be on fareast markets like Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, which have shown preferencefor `light skin' peanuts.

He said European quality conditions are becoming strict and the only way to service the customers there was to ensure timely shipment of cargo and conform to the buyers' specific requirements.