CASHEW INDUSTRY - AN OUTLOOK

Abstract

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) belongs to the family Anacardiaceae. In the world cashew production takes place mainly in the three zones namely (i) Central and South American zone, (ii) Asia and Oceanic zone and (iii) African zones. In these zones there are 28 countries now involved in the production of cashew. The total raw nut production in the world is around 39.53 lakh tons from an area of 35.78 lakh ha. Four centuries ago, the adventurous Portuguese came sailing down the Indian coasts and brought with them the priceless tree nut “cashew”, the wonder nut of the world. Cashew came, conquered and took deep roots in the entire coastal region of India. Cashew found the Indian soil more homely than its homeland. Later it spread as a popular crop to other parts of India. Cashew was originally planted in India as a windbreaker and to prevent soil erosion. Also its cultivation was also considered essential as tree cover in eroded hilly areas where reforestation programmes were under way, in order to prevent further erosion. Initially cashew cultivation in India is mostly confined to the western and eastern coastal areas of the peninsular region. But now commercial cultivation of cashew in India is taken up in eight states in India. Coastal states of the country are the main production centres. The important cashew growing states of India are Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu. It is also cultivated on small areas in other states of the country. India has an area of about 9.23 lakh ha under cashew with an estimated annual production of about 6.13 lakh tons of raw cashew nut with a productivity of 700 kg/ha (NHB, 2010). India is the largest producer, processor, consumer and exporter of cashew in the world. Cashew cultivation is taken up in small and marginal holdings and as more than 70% of the cashew area is under this category, cashew plays an important role in the development of small and marginal farmers. India has a comparative advantage in the production and processing of cashew nuts on account of its cheap and skilled labour force. The current production accounts for 45% of the global production. A large number of small and marginal farmers, especially living on the coastal belts of India, depend on cashew for their livelihood. Nearly 2.00 lakh workers, more than 90% of whom are women, are directly employed in cashew processing industries which are concentrated mostly in Kerala. It is estimated that nearly two million people are involved, directly and indirectly in cashew cultivation, processing and marketing. Cashew forms an important component of the basket of agricultural products exported from India. But the yield per hectare in India was poor at 860 kg/ha during 2007-08 as compared to 4,125 kg/ha in Vietnam and 2,000 kg/ha in Nigeria. There is a need to expand and fully utilize the crop potential if India has to keep pace with growing global demand, retain market share and stay ahead of the rapidly emerging competition in the world market.