Rajkot: In a boost to the agriculture sector, Gondal Marketing Yard and the American Peanut Board have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU, inked between Gondal Marketing Yard — one of the largest market yards in the region — and the American Peanut Board, focuses on collaboration in seed and technology exchange.

A delegation from the United States visited Gondal Yard on Wednesday, where they toured the facilities before officially signing the agreement. According to Alpeshbhai Dholaria, President of Gondal Marketing Yard, discussions between the Yard and the American Peanut Board had been ongoing for the past three years. “We had repeatedly invited them to send their representatives, and today, the Chairman and CEO of the American Peanut Board, Bob Parker, visited and signed the MoU with us on seed and technology exchange,” Dholaria said.

He added that both sides have agreed to a win-win partnership and that further steps will soon be taken in this direction. American institutions have been conducting research on Indian groundnuts and groundnut oil for a long time, and several positive findings have emerged — including evidence that the belief that groundnut oil is harmful to the heart is unfounded. Discussions also covered the use of improved groundnut seed varieties and advanced farming technologies, with plans being drawn up to directly benefit farmers.

Girnar Groundnut Oil Found to Have Properties Similar to Olive Oil

Olive oil is widely regarded as one of the most expensive and health-beneficial cooking oils. Research has now revealed that Girnar groundnut oil possesses similar properties to olive oil, said Alpeshbhai Dholaria. He added that while some research details are yet to be received, if such groundnut varieties are cultivated and marketed properly, farmers could earn significantly higher prices. “We are now moving forward in this direction,” he said. DeshGujarat