It is believed that the peanuts have been first cultivated in the valleys of Paraguay. They are seasonal annual plants having a maximum height of 30–50 cm.
China is leading producer and exporter of peanuts among the global countries. The share of China in total global production of peanuts is 42 percent. In terms of global peanuts production, India stands second with 12 percent and the United States is third with 8 percent share in total international production.
Peanuts belong to the plant family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), commonly known as the legume, bean, or pea family.
Like most legumes, peanuts harbor symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their root nodules, which improve soil fertility, making them valuable in crop rotations.
The peanuts despite not meeting the botanical definition of a nut as “a fruit whose ovary wall hardens at maturity,” are generally classified as nuts for food purposes.
Having a taste and nutrition similar to tree nuts such as walnuts and almonds, and as a culinary nut, they are often served in a similar way in Western cuisine. Global production of shelled peanuts in 2024 is estimated at 50.36 million tonnes, with China leading the total at 38%.
