Expand your farming operation with groundnuts

September 2025

GROUNDNUTS (ALSO KNOWN AS PEANUTS) ARE MORE THAN JUST A SNACK; IT IS A HIGH-VALUE, DROUGHT-TOLERANT CROP WITH STRONG MARKET DEMAND IN SOUTH AFRICA AND BEYOND. FOR FARMERS LOOKING TO DIVERSIFY THEIR PRODUCTION OR IMPROVE PROFITABILITY, GROUNDNUTS OFFER BOTH RESILIENCE AND INCOME POTENTIAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN MAIZE OR SUNFLOWER PRICES ARE UNDER PRESSURE.

Groundnut hectares increased from 31 000 ha in 2023/2024 to 43 400 ha in the 2024/2025 season. With average yields estimated at 1,2 t/ha, total production is projected at around 63 510 tons.

FOUR REASONS TO PLANT GROUNDNUTS
Climate conditions: Groundnuts are an excellent climate-smart choice, especially for dryland farming. It can thrive even when moisture is limited to the top 1 m of soil. Ideally, groundnuts prefer warm conditions and regions receiving 500 mm to 700 mm of annual rainfall. This makes it a reliable crop in areas experiencing increasingly variable weather patterns.

Soil benefits: As a legume, groundnuts fix nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility for the next crop.

Market demand: South Africa is a net importer of groundnuts but as the country does not produce enough to meet demand, so local production is valuable.

Profit potential: Even with smaller hectares, a good yield can bring solid returns, especially if you achieve choice-grade quality.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE AND USES
Peanuts are abundant in protein, healthy fats and dietary fibre and rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus and B vitamins, which offer a host of health benefits. It contains a great blend of healthy fats, protein and fibre that curbs your appetite, lowers the risk of heart disease and regulates blood glucose levels.

Groundnuts are primarily used for human consumption. People eat them raw, roasted, salted or for producing peanut butter and other by-products. It can also be used to produce cooking oil, which works well for frying, baking, salads and making margarine. The oil doesn’t dry out and is safe to eat. Young pods can be cooked like vegetables, and the young leaves and tips can be eaten as cooked greens.

Groundnut oil is also used in products such as medicine, soap, creams, cosmetics, paints, dyes and even fuel for diesel engines. After the oil is extracted, the leftover part (oilcake) is a high-protein food source for animals. The leaves and vines can be used as animal feed or for making hay. The shells are also used as animal feed.

FIVE GROWTH TIPS FOR NEW GROWERS
Soil selection: Groundnuts need deep, sandy, well-drained soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7. Avoid compacted areas and shallow soil.

Planting: Rows should be spaced 45 cm to 60 cm apart.

Harvesting takes place at about 150 days. Pull the whole plant out, dry in windrows for about two weeks, then shell carefully. Damaged nuts lower your income.

Nutrients: Calcium is essential for good seed yield, especially in acidic soils. Groundnut pods need water-soluble calcium directly from the topsoil via pegs, not just through roots. Gypsum is most effective to supply calcium to pods.

STARTING YOUR OWN GROUNDNUT FARMING OPERATION
Soil
Groundnuts grow best in sandy soils with less than 15% clay as it has a well-developed taproot system which, depending on the soil type, can reach a depth of 1,8 m. Soils with a high potential to produce groundnuts are therefore typically deep (1 500 mm to 2 000 mm), well drained, red and/or yellow soils with a high fine sand fraction such as sandy loam to sandy texture in the topsoil. The pH (KCl) should range between 5,5 to 7.

The seedbed must be moist, even and firm to allow good contact between the soil particles and the seed for good germination and root development. Physical limitations including shallow soil, hardpans or compaction layers must be avoided because it restricts taproot development.

Seed germination is rapid if the soil moisture and temperature are optimal (above 18°C). Seeds planted in too shallow soils will dry out quickly and germination will be low, which will result in poor stands and yields.

Water
Rainfall in the region of 500 mm to 700 mm per annum is optimum conditions for groundnut production. Areas under rainfed conditions in which groundnuts can be grown successfully, are limited because moisture is a critical factor for groundnut production.

Planting should not be done before at least 50 mm of rainfall in a short period of time was measured. The germination process of the seed can be speed up by planting the crop in moist, warm soils.

Temperature
Groundnuts require a growth period of at least 150 frost-free days and high temperatures. Planting in soils of 15°C at a 5 cm soil depth ensures fast germination and produces healthy seedlings.

A germination rate of 95% can be achieved between 18°C to 30°C. Suitable vegetative growth occurs best between 20°C to 35°C, while a day temperature of 27°C is most suitable for flower development. A warm day of 29°C and a cool night of 23°C are optimum temperatures for pod formation.

Fertiliser

Groundnuts are not highly dependent on nitrogen fertilisation.
In rural fields however the level of phosphorous is usually low and it should be applied additionally.
Like other crops, groundnuts require adequate levels of potassium for normal growth and development. In the unlikely event where the potassium levels are low, it can be supplemented up to 10 kg ha^-1.
Calcium, on the other hand, is an essential element in groundnut production and crucial for seed development.

An over-supply of potassium in the soil can induce a calcium deficiency. On calcium-deficient soils, groundnuts will produce a lower yield with a low kernel quality. Soil tests, analyses and correct fertilisation are important.

Production practices

Planting starts when the soil moisture is adequate and after the seedbed has been properly prepared. To establish a good planting density, an amount of 50 kg seed is planted on a hectare.
On smaller pieces of land, the spacing of the seed in the row can be 8 cm apart and the spacing between the rows must be 90 cm. In high rainfall areas the spacing between the rows can be 75 cm.
The seed must be placed at a depth of 5 cm and a little pressure must be exerted on the planting row to maximise the contact between the soil and the seed. When implements are used for planting, the seed and fertiliser are deposited simultaneously. If hand planting is used, the fertiliser can be broadly and evenly spread by hand after planting.
It is important to apply a pre-emergence herbicide, but pest and insect control are usually not a major concern. However, when there is an infestation of higher than 10%, action should be taken.
Maintenance of the groundnuts fields throughout the season is very important.

Harvesting
Harvesting takes place when the pods are fully mature – about 150 days after planting, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Farmers should monitor pod colour and texture to determine the right time for harvesting. Timing is very important because if you harvest too early, the pods won’t be fully grown but if you wait too long, they might start sprouting underground, which lowers its quality.

The whole plant gets lifted out of the ground and can be packed in a heap/stack (Photo 1) or placed in windrows (Photo 2) to dry. Lifting groundnuts can be done simply by using a garden fork. Once lifted, the groundnut plants should be stacked and left to dry.

Once the pods have dried, they can be picked off the plant by hand or rubbed against something like wire mesh to separate them. After that, the pods can be put into bags and taken to a processor or sold at local markets.

Growing groundnuts requires a lot of work, but it can yield a good profit. The harvesting and lifting process can also create job opportunities in the community. To get the best harvest and quality, try to learn as much as you can about how to grow them before you start planting.

References

Publication: September 2025

Section: Pula/Imvula

Author: COMPILED BY THE EDITORIAL TEAM

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