Introduction

India along with china accounts for half of the world'speanut production. Peanut is used as food- stuff (cooking oil, raw seeds, roasted, boiled) Animal feed (pressings, seeds, green material, straw) Industrial raw material (soap, detergent, cosmetics). The peanut seedcontains 40-50% fat, 20-50% protein, 10-20% carbohydrate and all these utilities and characteristics add to the demand of peanut in the world market.

Production area

Grown in tropical and subtropical areas, peanut thrives between 25-28oC and ca. 500-mm rainfall in open soil. Following are the Indian regions with plenty of peanut production: Eastern Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Saurashtra region in Gujarat, West Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

Growth promotional activities

Involvement of private sector organizations, exemption from few duties and the planning of certain programs for export enhancement are the measures to increase the production of peanut that at present counts for 7.5 millions metric tons annually.
 

Peanuts are an American favorite and a popular snack food. Peanuts are eaten as whole, salted nuts, are mashed into peanut butter, and are a common ingredient in many types of candy.

The peanut is a tender annual belonging to the pea family. It grows 6 inches to 2 feet tall, depending on type. The bunch type grows upright; the runner type spreads out over the ground. Small clusters of yellow, sweet pea-like flowers grow on stems called pegs. The pegs grow down and push into the soil, and the nuts develop 1 to 3 inches under ground from the pegs.

Peanuts are not grown commercially north of Washington, D.C., but they can be grown farther north for fun.

Common Name: Peanut

Scientific Name: Arachis hypogaca