COMMERCIAL quantities of peanuts could “absolutely” be growing again in the Northern Territory as early as next year if the chief executive officer of the Peanut Company of Australia has his way.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The company established a commercial peanut farm about 40 kilometres west of Katherine in 2007 but abandoned the ambitious project in 2012 after it encountered financial difficulties.
The company eventually sold the 11,700-hectare property to a sandalwood producer but PCA boss John Howard said the shelving of the plan – which aimed to transform the Katherine region into a peanut growing hub in the mould of the Queensland town of Kingaroy – did not mean peanuts could not be grown on a commercial scale in the NT.
“It’s been about two-and-a-half years since we sold our place,” he said.
“Us selling the property had nothing to do with the peanuts and had nothing to do with it being a viable proposition in the Territory.
“What we had been able to show was that, in the appropriate cropping system, there is a role for peanuts to play.”
Demonstrating the viability of NT peanut crops is currently being investigated by Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries technical officer Grant Cutler, who is leading a Katherine Research Station trial to see whether or not locally-grown crops can match the yields of those in Queensland.
The trial began in May and is testing ultra-early and full-season experimental lines, some of which are currently being harvested.
Mr Cutler said the results obtained to date showed that yields were “about on par” but admitted growing peanuts in the Top End presented challenges, especially late in the dry season.
“Up here at the moment, particularly in the last month, the heat and keeping the water up to them [has been a challenge],” he said.
“Other sort of factors are we get disease issues like leaf spot, which hasn’t actually popped its head up in this trial yet, which has been very fortunate.
“I think there is a lot of interest in getting peanuts back into the Territory.”
While the Katherine trial continues, Mr Howard said he had no doubt peanuts could be a commercial success in the NT, adding that PCA was already liaising with potential growers in the region.
“[Commercial peanut crops are] absolutely an option,” he said.
“The great thing about peanuts … being a legume, it adds a whole lot to the cropping system.
“It’s got a broader role to play.
“We’ve had a variety of discussions going on; exactly when that will come off, we’re not too sure, but we’re hoping there could be something next year.
“It could be next season.”
