1. Introduction

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), also known as peanut, is one of Nigeria’s most valuable legume crops. It plays a dual role as both a cash crop and food crop, providing edible oil, protein-rich food, livestock feed, and industrial raw material. Nigeria ranks first in Africa and fourth globally in groundnut production, producing 1.55–1.65 million metric tonnes annually (NBS, 2024). Groundnut is widely cultivated in the Sudan and Northern Guinea savannas and supports millions of smallholder farmers. It is the 13th most important food crop in the world and the 4th most important source of edible oil. Its seeds contain high-quality edible oil (50%), easily digestible protein (25%), and carbohydrates (20%) (FAO, 1994)[1].

2. Botanical Description

Parameter	Description
Scientific Name	Arachis hypogaea L.
Family	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Growth Habit	Annual, herbaceous plant with taproot
Root System	Deep taproot with nitrogen-fixing nodules
Flowers	Yellow, self-pollinated, borne close to the ground
Pods	Develop underground (geocarpy) 2–4 seeds per pod
Maturity Period	120–150 days depending on variety

 

3. Importance of Groundnut

Groundnut is economically and nutritionally vital. It provides vegetable oil, protein-rich food, and employment. Industrially, it serves as raw material for food, soap, cosmetics, and biodiesel industries. Nutritionally, 100g of kernels provides about 560 kcal, 26g protein, and 49g fat (FAO, 2023).

4. Suitable Agro-Ecological Zones

Groundnut grows optimally in semi-arid savanna zones with temperatures between 25–35°C and rainfall of 500–1,000 mm annually. It thrives on light sandy loam soils with a pH of 5.5–7.0. Major producing states include Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa, Borno, and Benue.

5. Land Preparation

Prepare the land before the onset of rains. Clear vegetation, plough, and harrow twice to obtain a fine tilth. On sloping land, ridges should be constructed along the contour to minimize erosion. Apply 5–10 tonnes/ha of farmyard manure to improve soil structure and fertility. Rotate with cereals such as maize or sorghum to reduce disease buildup.

6. Improved Varieties

Variety	Maturity (Days)	Yield (t/ha)	Traits
SAMNUT 24	110–120	2.5–3.0	High oil content, rosette-resistant
SAMNUT 25	120–130	3.0–3.5	Drought-tolerant, large pods
SAMNUT 26	125–135	3.5–4.0	Disease-resistant, adaptable
SAMNUT 27	100–110	2.8–3.5	Early maturing, suited to shorter rainfall

7. Planting Operations (Step-by-Step Guide)

1. Planting time: May–June in the North, April–May in the Middle Belt, after steady rainfall begins.
2. Method: Use the drilling or dibbling method, one seed per hole.
3. Spacing: 75 cm between rows × 25 cm within rows (≈ 53,000 plants/ha).
4. Depth: 5–6 cm deep with light soil cover.
5. Intercropping: Can be intercropped with maize, sorghum, or millet using a 1:1 row pattern.
6. Replanting: Fill gaps within 5–7 days of emergence for a uniform population.
7. Early planting helps avoid rosette virus infection.

8. Fertilizer and Soil Nutrition

Fertilizer Type	Rate (kg/ha)	Timing
Single Superphosphate (SSP)	150	At planting
Muriate of Potash (KCl)	50	30 days after emergence
Farmyard Manure	5–10 tonnes	During land preparation
Zinc Sulphate (ZnSO₄)	5	Once every two years

9. Weed, Pest, and Disease Management

Weed twice manually at 3 and 6 weeks after planting. For larger farms, use Pendimethalin (1.5 L/ha) as a pre-emergence herbicide.

The major pests attacking groundnut include: groundnut borer, red flour beetle, almond moth, termite, white grub, jassid, aphid, tobacco caterpillar, etc.

There are a number of diseases that affect the crop, some of which include: groundnut rosette, groundnut streak, bacterial wilt, anthracnose, fusarium wilt, pod rot, etc.

Groundnut rosette disease is one of the most destructive diseases of groundnut in sub-Saharan Africa, which is transmitted by Aphids, although rosette epidemics are sporadic, yield losses approach 100% whenever the disease occurs in epidemic proportions. For example, an epidemic in northern Nigeria destroyed approximately 0.75 million hectares of groundnut with an estimated loss of US$250 million in regional trade (Yayock et al. 1976)[6].

Problem	Symptoms	Control Measures
Aphids	Leaf curling, yellowing; vector of rosette virus	Use resistant varieties, early planting, and neem spray
Termites and White Grubs	Pod and root damage	Crop rotation destroys residues
Leaf Spot (Cercospora spp.)	Brown circular spots on leaves	Spray Mancozeb every 2–3 weeks
Groundnut Rosette Virus	Stunted plants, yield loss	Use SAMNUT 24/26, remove infected plants

10. Irrigation and Water Management

For dry-season farming, irrigate every 7–10 days using furrow or drip systems. Stop irrigation 10 days before harvest to allow pods to dry and reduce fungal growth (IITA, 2023).

11. Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling

Groundnut matures 120–150 days after planting. Harvest when leaves turn yellow and inner pod ribs darken. Loosen soil, pull plants gently, and dry pods under shade to 8–10% moisture before shelling and storage. After cleaning and grading, the dried pods could be stored in bags and stacked up to 10 bags high in separate stacks to allow air circulation among them. The bags should be piled on wooden planks to avoid damage from dampness.

12. Economic and Production Data (2025 Estimate)

Item	Cost (₦/ha)	Notes
Land Preparation	100,000	Tractor hire and ridging
Seeds & Chemicals	80,000	Certified SAMNUT seeds
Fertilizer & Manure	60,000	SSP + organic manure
Labour	120,000	Weeding and harvesting
Total Cost	≈ ₦360,000	Average production cost
Average Yield	2.5–3.5 t/ha	Rain-fed conditions
Selling Price	₦450,000–₦500,000/t	Farm gate price
Net Profit	₦600,000–₦1 million/ha	Profit margin estimate

Note: Prices may vary depending on your location. These prices are just an estimate; you should conduct your own market research.

13. Constraints and Opportunities

Constraints	Opportunities
Unstable government policies	Groundnut pyramids revival through aggregation centers
Limited access to certified seeds	Community seed multiplication supported by IAR
Post-harvest losses	Improved drying and cold storage facilities
Limited finance	NIRSAL and Anchor Borrowers Programme support

14. Summary

Groundnut farming remains one of Nigeria’s most profitable smallholder ventures. By adopting improved varieties, timely planting, good field management, and proper harvesting techniques, farmers can obtain yields above 3 tonnes per hectare. Groundnut also enriches soil fertility and provides an essential income.

References

1. Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD). (2024). National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy Progress Report.
2. Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Samaru. (2023). Performance Evaluation of SAMNUT Varieties in Northern Nigeria.
3. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). (2023). Dry Season Groundnut Irrigation Trials – Kano Station.
4. National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). (2024). Annual Crop Production Survey Report.
5. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (2023). Crop Nutritional Composition Database.
6. Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC). (2024). Nigerian Oilseed Value Chain Report.

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