ATTOCK, Nov 6: The harvesting and roasting of export quality peanut is on its peak in Attock, where moist sandy soil provides perfect land for its production.
The peanuts are not only popular in the country, but are also exported to Russia, Siberia, Europe and Middle East. Farmers and tenants are busy harvesting the crop while buyers from main markets of Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi have arrived to purchase the commodity.
A good yield is being expected this year due to the recent monsoon rains which had an excellent impact on the crops. Cultivators look excited to obtain a handsome produce this year, which they term a God’s blessing.
As per tradition, farmers gave half of the produce to the tenants for their labour in cultivation and harvesting. The rest was sold to meet expenses including the cost of seeds, fuel, fertilisers, machinery, electricity bills, and other overhead expenses.
A local farmer said a price of Rs3,800 to 4,000 per maund (40 kg) was being offered to them, whereas last year it was lesser. He said middlemen, including commission agents (Arthi) and traders, earned huge profits from the business every season.
The middlemen sold roasted peanuts at Rs5,800 to 6,000 per maund, thus profiting Rs2,000 per 40 kg. They earn a hundred per cent profit from its export, a farmer added.
On the other hand, the majority of cultivators are small farmers and lack resources to store the crop for a long time. Hence they prefer to sell their crop in time to fulfill their financial needs and liabilities.
Besides peanuts, wheat and mustard (Rabi crops) are the major crops of Attock that are harvested in April or May. Soon after their harvesting, farmers start ploughing their fields to prepare for the sowing of peanut seeds.
Agricultural sources state that peanut and wheat are cultivated on over 430,000 acres of agricultural land in Attock, which is an arid (Barani) district of Punjab.
Seasonal rains are the only guarantee of a good yield and handsome income for peanut producers. Whenever these rains are delayed, farmers offer special prayers for rain.