Abstract

Of the two million acres sown to groundnuts in the prosent Madras State nearly 90% of the area is in the rainfed season. Sowings are done in July August with the receipt of south west monsoon rains and the crop utilises both the monsoons for growth and development. Harvest synchronises with the declin- ing activity of the north east monsoon. Groundnut harvest. is a big problem to the cultivators as ideal conditions are obtained possibly once in a few years. Without adequate soil moisture harvests become costly and inefficient and in rare cases the crop is altogether abandoned. When continuous wet weather prevails harvests are no doubt easy but adequate drying facilities are lacking and invariably the quality is affected. The groundnut crop is valued primarily on its quality as may be seen from the fact that while good quality produce fetches Rs. 150/- per candy of 531 lb. to-day, poor quality produce is offered Rs. 90/- or even less per candy. Quality is mainly influenced by the stage of maturity and the post harvest handling of the produce.

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