PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF GROUNDNUT IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY
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Author:K. RAGHAVACHARI
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:22, Issue:sep-sep
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.A04882
Abstract
Of the several crops introduced at various times into India, the
groundnut must be said to have been of the greatest benefit to the
South Indian farmers. All the world over, the United States of
America not excepted, it is found, that the groundnut cultivation is
only in the hands of the small farmer. The main commercial product,
namely the oil, removes no plant food, and, being a legume, the crop
has been found to get all its nitrogen, about 90 lb. on the average per
acre, entirely from the air. Recent research (unpublished) of Mr.
T. Rajagopala Iyangar, M. Sc., has proved beyond doubt that by ino-
culation with a special organism it is not only possible to increase the
nitrogen fixation but also to definitely increase the yield of the crop
and improve the quality. This discovery opens up a vast field for
increasing the acre-yield of the crop which in Madras, is much above
the world average. Madras produces over 1,000 lb. of pods per acre,
while the world average is only 700 lb. To get the benefit of the
increased production, we should, in addition to widening our market.
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