Major Constraints and Utilization Pattern of Groundnut Under Rainfed Conditions in Punjab

The groundnut cultivation has almost disappeared from the irrigated areas of the Punjab state over the years and is now largely confined to sub mountainous region adjoining Himachal Pradesh. The groundnut is mostly grown as rainfed crop by majority of the farmers in the Kandi area of Punjab. The present study was undertaken to identify various abiotic constraints confronted by groundnut growers and to analyze the production and utilization pattern of the produce. Drought, lack of quality seeds, poor irrigation facilities, price variability, storage losses due to rodent attack and shortage of labour were the major abiotic constraints. Incidences of diseases and insect-pests attack were the major problems. The marketed surplus was 88.85, per cent. out of which 84.8 per cent was sold immediately after digging in the local market at the price of Rs. 15.28 per kg and 3.68 per cent was sold in future at the price of Rs. 17.61 per kg. There is an urgent need to develop necessary infrastructure for storage so that farmers can sell their produce in future at remunerative prices. Quality seed should be made available along with development of irrigation facilities. In order to stop distress sale and price variability government agencies should come forward to ensure good returns to the growers. The researchers should develop high yielding varieties resistant to drought, diseases and insect pests.