Abstract

                                India is one of the major oilseeds producing countries in the world and it will not be incorrect to say that oilseeds occupy a very prominent place in the agricultural and industrial economy of the State. The all India acreage is 29-3 million with a production of 53 lakhs tons and the major oilseed crops viz. groundnut, gingellyand caster cover an area of 20.3 million acres, producing 40-5 lakhs tons. In the Madras State they are cultivated in an area of over 20 lakhs acres with an annual production of 8-23 lakhs tons. The area of coconut in India is 1.53 million acres the world acreage being 8-4 million. In this State it is grown in an area of 5'5 lakh acres, producing 1,200 million nuts.

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