Despite the Gujarat government restricting inter-state movements of groundnuts produced in the state about 200 tonnes reach various markets in Maharashtra everyday. The informal ban by Gujarat is mainly due to a shortfall in output and to control the spiralling prices of the commodity.Groundnut production has been affected all over the country due to a poor crop this season and traders have found Maharashtra attractive mainly due to the high prices the commodity commands. In Maharashtra, groundnut premiums range between Rs 400 and Rs 550 a tonne.
According to Naresh Chandarana, convener of the vigilance committee at the Navi Mumbai, the trucks arrive from Amreli, Junagadh and Rajkot to Maharashtra. About 30 tonnes of groundnuts are unloaded at the APMC market, he claimed. The groundnut arrivals mainly comprise of three types of Java variety.
The price of Java 80-90 in Gujarat is around Rs 2,300 per quintal while the same variety in the grey market of Maharashtra hovers around Rs 2,750-Rs 2,800.Similarly Java 70-80 and Java 60-70 are quoted at Rs 2,800-Rs 2,850 and Rs 2,850-Rs 2,900, respectively against Rs 2,500 and Rs 2,450 in Gujarat.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
