A comprehensive breeding procedure for peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) consisting of three stages — till development of a genetically broad-based virginia-type population, recurrent selection without extensive crossing for continued population improvement, and isolation of pure lines from high yielding families at each cycle of selection was initiated in 1974. Forty S₁ families in S₃ generation were selected from each cycle of selection. Only five families from cycle 0 outyielded the check cultivar. Florigiant, whereas yield of all selected families from the next two cycles exceeded the yield of Florigiant. Pure lines isolated from high yielding cycle 0 families have yielded more than Florigiant in advanced yield trials. Use of this procedure provides a systematic approach in developing higher yielding peanut cultivars with a broad genetic base.