Farmer S. Thangavelu’s Experience with Groundnut Cultivation!
Published in: February 2021
Groundnut is a widely cultivated oilseed crop in Tamil Nadu. It can be grown in both rain-fed and irrigated lands. With proper cultivation techniques, a good yield can be achieved.
Recently, during a visit to Ottanchathiram in Dindigul district, we met S. Thangavelu from Pudu Ettam Nayakkan Patti at his farm to learn about his experience with groundnut cultivation. Here’s what he shared:
“I have cultivated groundnuts on two acres of paddy land. Before sowing, I applied farmyard manure and plowed the field four to five times to achieve fine tilth. Then, I applied two bags of complex fertilizer per acre as a basal dose.
Next, I prepared the seedbeds and, using labor, planted the seeds at a spacing of half a foot. After planting, I irrigated the field to help the seeds germinate. Subsequently, I irrigated once more and weeded at the appropriate time. Later, I irrigated again and weeded a second time.
For any crop, weed control is crucial as it ensures that the nutrients provided are fully utilized by the crop, leading to a good yield.
Then, I applied two bags of factamfos and one bag of potash as a top dressing. The plants are growing well. Groundnut plants are susceptible to red hairy caterpillars and leaf rollers, which cause holes in the leaves.
This condition is known as leaf spot disease. It is essential to control these pests and diseases promptly, as failure to do so can significantly impact the yield.
About 35 kilograms of seeds are required per acre for sowing. The price of one kilogram of seeds is 100-110 rupees. If the crop grows well, one acre can yield 15 bags of groundnuts, each weighing 37 kilograms. This 37 kilograms refers to dry groundnuts.
Each bag is sold for two thousand rupees. Based on this calculation, the total income is thirty thousand rupees. The cultivation cost per acre is twenty thousand rupees. After deducting this cost, we are left with a profit of ten thousand rupees. The crop can be harvested in about a hundred days.
The leaves of the groundnut plants that fall onto the ground act as green manure, enriching the soil. These groundnut plants also make excellent feed for goats and cattle. Therefore, after harvesting the groundnuts, we dry and store the plants properly and use them as feed for our livestock.
This practice benefits us, enriches the soil, and provides feed for our goats and cattle. Hence, we continue to cultivate groundnuts,” he said.
Pasumai
