The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has developed two high-oleic groundnut varieties which offer longer shelf life and nutritional value. The new varieties will benefit groundnut farmers in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha, and the North Eastern States.
Combining higher yields with premium oil quality, the new varieties are expected to improve farm profitability, strengthen India’s edible oil value chain, and support national efforts to reduce dependence on imported edible oils.
The All India Coordinated Research Project on Groundnut (AICRP-G) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) recently identified the two new varieties — ICGV 201214 and ICGV 181030 — for national release.
High-oleic groundnuts contain significantly higher levels of oleic acid than conventional varieties, producing oil with improved shelf life, greater oxidative stability, and enhanced nutritional value. “These characteristics are increasingly sought after by food processors, manufacturers and health-conscious consumers, creating opportunities for premium pricing across the value chain,” an ICRISAT spokesperson said.
The ICGV 181030 variety was jointly developed by ICRISAT and the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad (Karnataka).
The medium-duration Spanish bunch variety has been recommended for cultivation during the Kharif season in Zone II (Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra) and Zone IV (Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and the Northeastern States).
