If you work in the food sector, especially if you deal with peanuts, you've probably heard the term Decortication and Packing of Peanuts. Simply said, it comprises removing the outer skin of the peanut and packing it before to shipping or selling it to customers. What does it mean, though, to decorticate peanuts? What does the term "decortication" mean? Before hulling, peanuts have their skins removed. They're roasted after that. The roasting kills the microorganisms that live naturally on peanut shells, keeping the oils from becoming rancid.
After roasting, peanuts are shelled again to remove any remaining shell fragments. This treatment also gets rid of any minute shell fragments that were missed during the decortication process (this can happen if a peanut gets slightly crushed during shelling). Finally, the decorated nuts are pulverised into a fine powder for use in products like peanut butter and protein powders.
Peanuts, also known as groundnuts, are a high-value commodity that can be sold raw but can also be used to make a number of products. The oil can be used in cooking, as a shortening, or as a confectionery base. It's also good for making peanut butter.
Arachishypogaea, or peanut or groundnut, is a legume or "bean" species. In Paraguay's lowlands, the peanut was most likely domesticated and farmed. It's an annual herbaceous plant that grows 30 to 50 cm (1.0 to 1.6 feet) tall. Each leaflet is 1 to 7 centimetres length and 1 to 3 centimetres broad. The leaves are opposite, pinnate, and four-leaflet pinnate (two opposing pairs; no terminal leaflet). Earthnuts, ground nuts, goober peas, monkey nuts, pygmy nuts, and pig nuts are just a few of the names for peanuts. The peanut is a legume, not a nut, despite its name and appearance.
India is the world's second-largest producer of groundnuts. Indian groundnuts come in three varieties: Bold or Runner, Java or Spanish, and Red Natal. Kadiri-2, Kadiri-3, BG-1, BG-2, Kuber, GAUG-1, GAUG-10, PG-1, T-28, T-64, Chandra, Chitra, Kaushal, Parkash, Amber, and others are the most commonly planted groundnut cultivars in India. The procurement, storage, shelling, grading, and shipping of raw peanuts are all part of the peanut processing process. Throughout the supply chain, the peanut shelling business is committed to food safety and quality. The peanut shelling industry's overall performance in delivering safe, nutritious products to consumers depends on the ability of regulatory agencies and industry to work to improve food safety and quality utilising the latest research.
The net profit of the farmer is determined by effective agricultural practises and the application of extension research. High oleic varieties present a particular challenge for the market; while most manufacturers regard this as a means to improve shelf life and freshness, it puts the producer and sheller in a bind.
Groundnut seeds are separated from their pods using this apparatus. Groundnut decortication can be done with a variety of equipment, each with a different level of difficulty. The functions of a typical groundnut decorticator are as follows:
• After cracking the groundnut, separate the seed from the seed-pod combination and feed it in a controlled manner.
Peanuts have traditionally been stored in bags and handled manually without being properly cleaned or dried. The advancement of technology has aided in the handling and storage of peanuts. Before being transported by conveying devices, the peanuts are now treated properly and kept in godowns or silos. Bucket elevators, belts, auger or screw conveyors, pneumatic conveyors, and other handling methods are available to transport the goods.
Other downstream machines are in charge of the final packing, which is defined by the needs of the customer. The final packaging is the one that reaches the market. It keeps and protects the natural occurrence of peanuts in a suitable packing material. The bag's storage capacity is 50 kg, as requested by the client.
Consumption has risen at a 2.53% annual rate and is expected to rise even more between 2019 and 2024. Groundnut seeds are high in protein and contain edible oil (43-55 percent) (25-28 percent). China and India are the world's largest consumers and exporters of peanuts, accounting for almost 36% of global consumption.
Due to variations in client consumption patterns, as demand for plant-based protein over meat-based protein develops, many other countries provide significant possibilities for exporters. As people become more interested in healthy eating, peanuts are expected to become a key source of unsaturated fats, fibre, protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Peanuts are the most extensively utilised crop in the food sector, and they may be found in a wide range of products. The peanut market is estimated to increase at a CAGR of 4.5 percent from 2021 to 2026. Peanut markets are advantageous for manufacturing a variety of peanut oils, dry roasted peanuts, and snacks that can be consumed directly or indirectly.
Groundnuts are commonly produced as a staple crop in tropical and sub-tropical developing nations, providing a valuable source of proteins, lipids, energy, and minerals. Groundnuts are primarily farmed and consumed in underdeveloped countries. Exports account for only about 6% of world output. The bulk of edible groundnuts are farmed for domestic consumption rather than export. Groundnut varieties most suited to specialised export market applications, such as the manufacturing of roasted, salted, or coated nuts, snacks, chocolate-based items, or peanut butter, are not commonly grown by producers.
Key Players:
· Jalaram Agriexports Ltd.
· Mehek Overseas Ltd.
· Moolchand Exports Ltd.
· Olam Agro India Pvt. Ltd.
