The Hindu Business Line : Lower production may hit groundnut meal exports

WHILE fiscal 2003-04 has seen a four-to-five-fold increase in export of groundnut extractions to 1.3 lakh tonnes valued at Rs 100 crore (up from 28,665 tonnes worth Rs 19 crore in 2002-03), prospects for exports are not bright in the current year because of anticipated decline in production in the ensuing kharif season.

Addressing the members of Groundnut Extractions Export Development Association (GEEDA) here on Thursday, the Chairman, Mr S.B. Jhaveri, said: "It would be unrealistic not to expect a difficult year ahead. The oil mill and solvent extraction industry may have to face a severe raw material crunch, live with low levels of capacity utilisation and thereby pressure on margins, and overall shrinkage of business turnover."

Although the Agriculture Ministry had projected 63-lakh-tonne groundnut output for kharif 2004 season (down from 71 lakh tonnes in the previous year), there was a degree of skepticism in this estimate, as trade experts were not so optimistic about the crop size, he pointed out.

Mr Jhaveri has asked the members of his association to be vigilant in sourcing raw material so that the strict quality requirements of end-users such as poultry, aqua or dairy industries could be met.

Domestic consumption of groundnut meal continues to show a robust growth. The temporary setback following the outbreak of avian influenza had been, however, overcome in due course.

Global protein meal production is expected to grow by 7 per cent in 2004-05 to 207.6 million tonnes and with consumer friendly prices an increase in consumption demand is anticipated.

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