- India is the second largest producer of groundnuts behind China.
- Major growing states are Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh.
- Groundnut is believed to have originated in South America, from where the cultivation of groundnut spread to Brazil, southern Bolivia and North-western Argentina. It is reported to have been introduced by the Portuguese from Brazil to West Africa and then to South-western India in the 16th century.
- It is a tropical crop that requires 20°-30°C temperature and 50-75 cm rainfall.
- Isohyet of 100 cm marks the upper limit for groundnut cultivation.
- It is largely a rainfed kharif crop of drylands.
- But in southern India, it is cultivated during the rabi season as well.
- It is highly susceptible to frost, prolonged drought, continuous rain & stagnant water.
- A dry winter is needed at the time of ripening.
- Well-drained sandy loams, red, yellow and black cotton soils are well-suited.
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