The groundnut or peanut was probably first domesticated and cultivated in the valleys of Paraguay. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing 30 to 50 cm (1.0 to 1.6 ft) tall.Gujarat shares major area for growing peanuts when compared to whole country.

• Groundnut is one of the most nourishing foods available in the world. Groundnuts have considerable medicinal value. They contain a good deal of oil, which is very easily digested.
• Eating fresh roasted groundnuts with jaggery and goat’s milk is  very nutritious for growing children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. It builds a resistance against several infections, such as Hepatitis and tuberculosis.
• Ground nuts or groundnut products are useful in the treatment of hemophilia, and inherited blood disease, which causes hemorrhage. It is also useful in nose bleeding and in cases of excessive bleeding during menstruation in women.
• Groundnuts are valuable in diabetes. It is also useful in diarrhea, especially chronic diarrhoea, which is more frequent immediately after meal. The patient can use it by drinking goat’s milk in which lemon is squeezed with a handful of fresh roasted groundnuts. Diarrhoea is caused due to nicotinic acid deficiency mainly and groundnuts provide the required quantity of Niacin.
• Chewing fresh groundnuts with a pinch of salt strengthens the gums, cures stomatitis, and kills harmful bacteria.