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In this article we will discuss about the history and uses of groundnut.
History of Groundnut:
The peanut (Arachis hypogea Linn.) is a native of South America, now generally cultivated throughout India. This was not known in the Old World before the discovery of America. According to Dymock this plant reached India through China. It does not appear to have been cultivated for more than 150 years. This was brought to western India from Africa.
It is native of Brazil. It is widely grown in South India, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. North Gujarat is famous for peanut cultivation. The plant is a bushy or creeping annual with the peculiar habit of ripening its fruit underground. A sandy soil is best for its cultivation. The soil must be friable so that the ripening fruit can be buried, and it must be well fertilized.
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Uses of Groundnut:
The peanuts (seeds) are used for roasting or salting and for the preparation of peanut butter. Peanuts are a very nutritious food. One lb. of peanuts yields 2700 cal.
The filtered refined oil is used for cooking and in making margarine. Peanut oil is important food oil. The oilcake is used as fodder. The protein in peanuts is used in the manufacture of ardil, a synthetic fibre. The vegetable ghee is made from the peanut oil after hydrogenation.
The kernels are also used in various foods and confectionery. They are ground and made into peanut butter. Peanut flour is prepared by grinding the finest grades of peanut cake; it is used for supplementing the white flour. Cake is used as feed for cattle and other farm animals; also used as manure. Cake has high nutritive value. Seed-coats are mixed with groundnut husk and the product is called groundnut bran.
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Some commercial products are groundnut milk, peanut ice-cream and peanut massage oil for infantile paralysis. Hulls are used as filler for fertilizers, or ground into meal for insulation blocks, floor sweeping compounds, bedding the stables, etc. Peanut oil also finds some use as a lubricant, and blends with mineral oil have been developed.
