Nation's Top Scientists to Discuss Peanut Research at ‘Peanut - 2025’ Conference

Udaipur: India, although self-sufficient in food production, still has a long way to go in food oil production. One of the key ingredients in oil production is peanuts. To address this, renowned researchers from across the country will gather in Udaipur starting tomorrow, March 18, for a three-day conference on the subject *‘Peanut - 2025’*, where they will review the progress of peanut research and development in India. They will also discuss the challenges and opportunities in increasing peanut production and productivity, with an aim to draft strategic plans for the future.

The event, the annual meeting of the All-India Coordinated Research Project on Peanuts, will be held at the Rajasthan Agricultural College Auditorium in Udaipur at 10 AM on March 18. The opening session will be graced by the Chief Guest, Dr. Ajit Kumar Karnataka, Vice-Chancellor of MPUAT, and presided over by Dr. D.K. Yadav, Deputy Director General (Crop Science) of ICAR, New Delhi. Dr. Sanjeev Gupta, Assistant Director General (Oilseeds & Pulses) of ICAR, will honor the guests.

The event will be coordinated by Dr. S.K. Bera, Director of ICAR IIGR, Junagadh, and Dr. Arvind Verma, Director of Research at MPUAT, Udaipur. Senior Scientists Dr. Nataraj and Dr. Pratap Bhan Singh from Junagadh and Udaipur will assist as Co-Organizing Secretaries.

**India: A Global Leader in Peanut Production**

India ranks among the top peanut producers globally, with major peanut-producing states including Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Rajasthan. Peanuts are not only important for edible oil production but also serve as raw material for animal feed and industrial use. Peanuts are a major source of food oil and protein in the country.

During the three-day event, experts will engage in in-depth discussions on peanut crop improvement, production techniques, preservation strategies, breeder seed production, new technologies, and identification of potential high-yielding peanut varieties.