High-Oleic Groundnut: ICGV 201214 and ICGV 181030 Identified
Why in the news
ICAR’s groundnut research network picked two new high-oleic varieties for release across the country. The decision came at the annual group meeting held in Pune from 21 to 23 April 2026. Both support India’s drive to cut edible oil imports.
Key facts
- Identifying body: Variety Identification Committee of AICRP-G (All India Coordinated Research Project on Groundnut) under ICAR.
- ICGV 201214 (also ICGG 107) was bred by ICRISAT with Junagadh Agricultural University.
- ICGV 181030 (also ICDh 181030) was bred by ICRISAT with UAS Dharwad.
- Both are medium-duration Spanish bunch types for the Kharif season, offering better yield, longer shelf life and premium oil quality of 78-81% oleic acid.
Variety comparison
| Feature | ICGV 201214 | ICGV 181030 |
|---|---|---|
| Partner institute | Junagadh Agricultural University | UAS Dharwad |
| Recommended zone | Zone II (Gujarat, Rajasthan) | Zone II and Zone IV |
| Oleic acid | 81% | About 78% |
| Other traits | 53% oil, 27% protein, bold kernel | Zone II yield gain 12% |
| Yield edge | +19% kernel over JL 501 | +7% pod yield over Girnar 3 in Zone IV |
About high-oleic groundnut
- Kernels with 78% or more oleic acid and an oleic-to-linoleic ratio of at least 10:1 are high-oleic.
- Shelf life is 5-10 times longer and the oil resists rancidity.
- Oleic acid is the monounsaturated fat found in olive oil; it lowers heart disease risk and improves the HDL:LDL ratio.
- The global benchmark is SunOleic 95R, a US-bred line with about 80% oleic acid.
- Earlier ICRISAT-partner releases: Girnar 4, Girnar 5 (both 2020), GG 40 and GG 39.
Groundnut zones (AICRP-G)
- Zone I (north): J&K, Himachal, Punjab, Haryana, plus north Rajasthan and western UP.
- Zone II (northwest): Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
- Zone III (south): Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
- Zone IV (east): Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand and the Northeastern States.
Institutions
- ICRISAT: set up 28 March 1972, headquartered at Patancheru, Hyderabad; a CGIAR-affiliated non-profit research centre for dryland crops. Director General: Dr. Himanshu Pathak, in office since 6 March 2025.
- ICAR: founded 16 July 1929 as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research; based in New Delhi under DARE; Director General Dr. M.L. Jat.
Edible oil context
- Import dependence is about 56-60%, with an annual import bill near ₹1.5 lakh crore.
- India ranks second in groundnut output; Gujarat is the largest producing state.
- NMEO-Oilseeds (November 2024): ₹10,103 crore over seven years, 2024-25 to 2030-31. NMEO-Oil Palm (2021): ₹11,040 crore.
- Duty on crude edible oils rose from 5.5% to 16.5% in 2024; refined oils went from 13.75% to 35.75%.
Exam angle
- High-oleic threshold: 78% oleic acid. Meeting venue: Pune.
- ICGV 181030 is a first for Odisha and the Northeastern States.
- Related schemes: NMEO, Price Support Scheme, Price Deficiency Payment Scheme.