One of the agricultural crops having the greatest potential in the agribusiness of Tajikistan is a peanut. The peanuts, commonly known as groundnuts, are herbaceous plant from the legume family. Peanuts can be grown by entrepreneurs for sale as raw materials in Tajikistan, as well as used for processing, storage, and production of various products in their business. An American scientist George Carver worked on production of various products from peanuts and identified more than 300 products that an entrepreneur could produce and get a good income in 1903. In other words, the peanuts are one of the most viable products for starting a business in Tajikistan that does not require large investments and efforts.
Peanut cultivation
One can get from 1500 to 2000 kg of yield from each hectare of peanuts. That is, at the current market price, which is 10-12 somoni, one can earn 2,000 x 12 -24,000 somoni. Considering that growing peanuts does not require large financial costs and labor, the farmer receives more income from unit of area.
Also in the south of Tajikistan, where the vegetation period lasts throughout the year, farmers can grow the peanuts in the second yield after harvesting early grains and vegetables and get additional income. In addition, since a peanut is a legume crop, it is recommended to plant it after cotton. This improves the soil structure and fertility, and will also become one of the ways to control cotton worms.
Even there are all conditions for production of peanuts in Tajikistan, its production is insufficient, and a part of it is imported.
Roasted peanuts at home
It is very simple to roast the peanut. All one need is peanuts and vegetable oil. Peanuts can be roasted in the shell or clean of the shell, and then roasted. For production of roasted peanuts, it is necessary to choose good quality grains. Entrepreneurs can buy products or grow them on their land, as well as sell it wholesale and be engaged in this type of business. It should be noted that 1 kg of raw peanuts in the market costs 10-12 somoni, and 1 kg of roasted peanuts costs 25-30 somoni.
One can find several types of these products: salted and roasted peanuts, roasted peanuts with shells, roasted peanuts with oil, oil free and unsalted roasted peanuts, and many other products in the market. That is, one can start a small business with low costs and a good income. Relatively large and industrial peanut roasting enterprises use various machines and furnaces that can operate on electricity or solid fuel and can process large quantities.
Packing of peanut grains
Peanuts can be found without packaging, as well as in packaged form in various containers in the market. In other words, the packaging of peanut grains is another type of production of added value products, and thus an entrepreneur can get additional income.
Packaging can also be in different kinds and types, and the better the packaging is, the more it have an impact on prices and increase the entrepreneur’s income. Different machines too are used for packing peanuts.
Peanut butter production
One of the most popular and profitable products of peanut production is the peanut butter production. Tajikistan mainly imports a large portion of the peanuts. Thus, those who want to start this business can recover the costs and profit in a short time. According to the business plan of peanut butter production, the payback time is 8-9 months. For this, one will need the following equipment:
1. Peanut Shell Cleaning Equipment
2. Peanut Kernel Cleaning Machine (dry method)
3. Peanut Roasting Machine.
4. Peanut Mill
5. Final Product Packing Equipment.
On average, the cost of 1 can of 250 grams of peanut butter, considering the cost of equipment and raw materials, is about 12 somoni, and the selling price on the market is more than 25 somoni.
Thus, the production and processing of peanuts is one of the most promising types of agribusiness in Tajikistan.