Adipattam Price forecast

Kharif (June-September) is an important sowing season in Tamil Nadu. It is based on southwest monsoon. Many crops are sown in this season. Farmers have to take decision to decide if sowing is profitable or not? To help them in taking proper pre sowing decisions, National Agri. Innovation Project (NAIP)-Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell (DEMIC) functioning at Tamil nadu Agricultural University provides price forecast for Kharif crops, viz., Maize, Gingelly, Groundnut and small onion.

Maize

Currently Maize price is moving upward in Tamil Nadu because of lean arrivals and increased demand in poultry sector. The farm gate price moved above Rs.1500 per quintal and local delivery price crossed Rs.1550 per quintal. Even though arrivals from Bihar started flowing into the market, increased demand from poultry industry and scarce arrivals from Tamil Nadu caused the price to rule above Rs.1500 per quintal during June, 2013. The sowing of Kharif crop is progressing in all the major maize growing States. Expected normal monsoon will increase the kharif maize area in the current season which leads to higher production in the ensuing season. The kharif arrivals will start from September, 2013.

Karnataka arrivals will enter the market during August end. Till that the price will rule above Rs.1500 per quintal. After September, 2013 a chance of price decline is expected. Under the circumstances DEMIC in TNAU analysed the past 19 years price at Udumalpet and conducted traders survey. The econometric analysis revealed that the price will rule around Rs.1300-1400 per quintal in the harvesting period ie. during October- December, 2013.

Gingelly

Sesamum is an important edible oilseed in India. In India, gingelly seed production in Kharif (2012-13) was 3.40 lakh tonnes and it was 4.20 lakh tonnes in Kharif during 2011-12. West Bengal, Orissa, Assam and Andhra Pradesh mostly produce red and black varieties while white gingelly is grown in Maharastra and other Western States.

According to trade sources, 70 per cent of gingelly is cultivated in kharif season in Tamil Nadu. Erode, Karur, Thanjavur, Cuddalore, Salem, Villupuram, Thiruppur, Virudhunagar and Pudukottai are the major districts contributing to 63 per cent of the State area. Adipattam (Kharif) sowing will be done during July-August and market arrivals commence from September- December. Main varieties cultivated in Tamil Nadu are TMV3, 4,5,6,7 (Brown Gingelly), CO1, (Black gingelly) and SVPR1, (White gingelly). White gingelly is preferred for export purpose and also high priced. Red gingelly varieties are used for oil purpose and black gingelly varieties are mainly used in confectionaries. Red gingelly accounts for more than 75 per cent of total gingelly trade in Tamil Nadu. Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell analysed 13 years historical prices of Sivagiri Regulated market and the results reveal that the price of red gingelly would be around Rs.72 to 76 per kg during harvest period viz., September to December 2013. 

Groundnut

Groundnut or peanut is one of the important oilseeds in the world. The price of competing oilseeds like soybean, palm oil, sunflower, mustard etc. influences price of groundnut and oil. Total world production of groundnut in 2012-13 may amount to approximately 37.19 million tonnes (2011-12: 35.33 million tonnes).

India’s import of edible oil during 2012-13 is expected to increase to 103.1 lakh tonnes, compared with 97.8 lakh tonnes in 2011-12. Groundnut production in kharif (2012-13) was 26.20 lakh tonnes and the same was 41.75 lakh tonnes in kharif 2011-12. The major producers of groundnut are Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The area under groundnut in Tamil Nadu was 3.85 lakh hectares during 2010-2011.The major groundnut cultivating districts are Thiruvannamalai, Vellore, Villupuram, Namakkal, Salem, Erode and Pudukottai. More than 60 % of the rainfed groundnut is grown in Adi pattam  season.  TVM 7,  VRI 2, VRI Gn 5, VRI Gn 6 and TMV Gn 13 are the important Groundnut varieties grown in Tamil Nadu. The econometric analysis and market survey by DEMIC revealed that farmers could get a price of Rs.45-47 per kg of groundnut pods in Sevur Regulated Market of Tiruppur districts. For kernels the price would range from Rs.58-60 per kg. in Tindivanam market area.

Small onion

Small onion is cultivated all through the year in Tamil Nadu as it fetches remunerative price. According to the Second  Advance Estimates (2012-13) of National Horticultural Board, area and production of onion in Tamil Nadu was 36,310 ha and 3,98,930 tonnes and in 2011-12, it was  37,120 ha and 5,56,450 tonnes, respectively. In Tamil Nadu, more than 70 per cent of the area is occupied by small onion. Currently onion from Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Trichy districts are arriving to the markets. During April to June 2013, the farm gate price of onion was Rs.45 to Rs.80 per kg because of less arrivals. Arrivals from Karnataka has started and will continue up to July 2013, but quality is not good due to rain damage. The Mysore onion price is ranging between Rs.55-60 per kg. At present there is no export of small onion because of low production. CO5 is the important multiplier onion variety grown in Tamil Nadu. Small onion prices that prevailed in Dindigul market for the past 15 years were analysed and market surveys were also conducted. Based on the analysis and survey, farm gate price of small onion is expected to be Rs.45 and above per kg during harvest period viz., September and October 2013. Based on this price farmers are requested to take their sowing decisions. The best quality onion bulb is round shaped with a diameter 27 mm and above, and the colour is pink to red. Hence farmers are advised to select such varieties which fetches better price.

For further details contact:

Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell, (DEMIC)

Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies,

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,

Coimbatore -641 003.

Phone : 0422 - 2431405