SOMA pins hopes on Peanut Promotion Council

RAJKOT: The Saurashtra Oil Millers’ Association (SOMA) is pinning hopes on the union agriculture ministry for setting up of Peanut Promotion Council for promotion of groundnut and its products.

SOMA had submitted an application to the union agriculture ministry in June this year demanding Peanut Promotion Council.

It also handed over research by the organisation to Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) that concluded that groundnut consumption was good for health. ICAR is expected to submit its report on the research findings to the union ministry in mid-December and based on that decision to form the council will be taken.

It is proposed that the Peanut Promotion Council will create awareness among farmers about the crop, its pattern, new methods of cultivating better yield. The council will also help SOMA in popularizing the use of groundnut oil.

SOMA members also put forward their demand of council before junior minister of agriculture Parshottam Rupala on Sunday during its Annual General Meeting (AGM). Rupala said “We are positive about this proposal as it will benefit the farmers.”

SOMA president Samir Shah said “There are some misconception about the consumption of groundnut oil which is required to be cleared. We have research showing that groundnut oil is good for health.”

“We have handed over our research to ICAR and the scientists are working on it. I have learnt that they will submit their comments on the research to the ministry by mid-December and based on the report the ministry will take the decision to form a peanut promotion council,” he said adding that union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh was positive about setting up of the Peanut Promotion Council.

SOMA also claims that the groundnut oil of Saurahstra’s crop is more healthy then olive oil. “The proportion of oleic acid is 70% in olive oil while in groundnut oil the proportion is 72 to 82%according to some research,” Shah claimed. Oleic acid reduces the substance that are responsible for hearth diseases.

Groundnut is political sensitive commodity in Gujarat with highest production in Saurashtra region. Last year there was a record production of 31.45 lakh tonne. However, this year the production is likely to dip by 15 lakh tonne. due to deficit rain.