Shangnan Peanuts

Shangnan Peanuts

　　Shangnan peanuts are a specialty of Shangnan County in Shangluo City, Shaanxi Province. Peanuts are one of the county’s major cash crops and also one of the five key agricultural industries prioritized for development — namely tea, livestock, fruit, oil, and medicinal herbs.

　　Peanuts are a major oilseed crop in Shangnan, primarily cultivated in the low-mountain valleys along the “312” National Highway and the Danjiang River basin. The total planting area in the county reaches 53,000 mu, including 22,000 mu of pollution-free peanut bases. Peanut cultivation strictly follows the standards set by the “Shaanxi Province Pollution-Free Peanut Production Regulations” and the “Shaanxi Province Pollution-Free Peanut Base Environmental Conditions.” The main varieties include the Luhua and Yuhua series, encompassing both spring-planted medium to large seed types for oil production, and summer-planted small seed types for roasting. The stable yield is around 9,000 tons per year, with an annual output value of 27 million yuan. Peanut kernels are priced between 4–5 yuan per kilogram and are available on the market from early to mid-October. Peanut oil is priced between 10–12 yuan per kilogram and is supplied year-round.

　　Advantages of Shangnan peanuts: First, peanuts are highly adaptable and every part of the plant is valuable. As urban and rural living standards continue to rise, peanut consumption is increasing. Byproducts such as stems, leaves, shells, and cakes serve as excellent animal feed, and the root nodules have a certain nitrogen-fixing capability, which helps improve soil fertility — all of which boosts farmers’ enthusiasm for growing peanuts. Second, Shangnan benefits from rich agricultural resources in terms of climate and soil, most of which are suitable for peanut cultivation. Farmers have extensive experience in peanut farming. Coupled with the area’s increasingly developed transportation and communication networks, and strong demand for peanuts in surrounding large and medium-sized cities, peanut sales channels are more unobstructed. Third, Shangnan has a well-established agricultural science and technology service system, supported by a team of skilled professionals with expertise in peanut cultivation who provide strong technical guidance, as well as an extensive technical and material service network — all of which help enhance the technological level of peanut production. Fourth, peanut processing enterprises in Shangnan are beginning to take shape, with continuously improving processing standards and capacities, laying a solid foundation for strengthening and expanding the peanut industry. Therefore, the development of peanut production holds significant potential advantages and broad prospects.