Cashew Cultivation Research Articles

Assessing Key Constraints in Cashew Production: Insights from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India

India ranks among the world’s top cashew producers, with Kerala and Tamil Nadu serving as key contributors to the country's cashew production. Among the Plantation sector, specifically cashew cultivation plays a pivotal role in boosting farm economy in India. This particular study explores field constraints experienced by cashew growers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which significantly impacts cashew cultivation. The key objective is to compare field challenges experienced by cashew growers among major producers in southern regions of India. The methodology involves a purposive multi-stage sampling approach to select regions, with an equal proportion of 80 respondents from each state selected through simple random sampling. Totally, 160 cashew growers were investigated for data collection through pre-tested structured interview schedule. The data sets were analysed using SPSS software, with frequency and percentage analysis employed to rank the identified constraints. The significant findings were pest and disease infestations, labour scarcity, unstable market price, lack of technical know-how and inadequate processing facilities. Notably, 100 per cent of growers reported that, Cashew Stem and Root Borer (CSRB) infestation as a most critical issue in both states. This paper highlights, region-specific and timely technical interventions, commodity-specific assured markets, proper pricing system and infrastructure development. The study's interpretation highlights the need to address high-priority and specialized constraints through targeted policy reforms and technical support systems, aiming to enhance the productivity and sustainability of cashew farming in India. These findings also provide valuable insights that can be applied to other cashew-producing regions and contribute to shaping national agricultural policies.

Sustainable livelihoods through cashew cultivation: insights from smallholder farmers in the southern region of India

Cashew cultivation has emerged as an important agricultural activity in promoting sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers. The present study investigates the impacts of cashew cultivation on sustainable livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the Southern region of India, addressing a significant research gap in the understanding of how this crop affects various aspects of farmers' lives. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study reveals that, cashew farming significantly increases farmers’ income, leading to improvements in food security, education, social status, and standard of living. These findings contribute to new insights into the socio-economic and environmental dimensions of cashew cultivation, offering a holistic understanding of its role in rural development. Additionally, the study also emphasizes the need for government policies supporting smallholders in cashew farming, including training, access to quality seeds, and best agricultural practices. Social welfare initiatives and cooperatives can improve the overall well-being of cashew farming communities. Research and development should prioritize climate-resistant cashew varieties to address environmental challenges linked to cashew cultivation. The study’s results also provide a foundation for future research and policy formulation aimed at enhancing the practice of cashew farming for sustainable livelihoods.

Characterization of weeds in cashew plantations (Anacardium occidentale L.) in the Bafing region, in the North-West of Côte d’Ivoire

For the past five years, cashew has played an important role in the performance of the agricultural sector in Côte d'Ivoire. However, weeds represent one of the major constraints that compromise its production. The objective of this study is to characterize the weed flora and to identify the species most harmful to cashew cultivation in the Bafing region, precisely in the locality of Touba located in the North-West of the Côte d'Ivoire. Knowing the weed flora is necessary in order to carry out an effective fight against it. One hundred and twenty-four (124) surveys were carried out in cashew orchards in the localities of Kôssafinisso, Mandougou, Sesso, Têkor and Timinnnisso. The floristic inventory identified eighty two (82) weed species divided into sixty three (63) genera belonging to twenty five (25) families. By grouping according to botanical classes, the Dicotyledons represent 67% of the weed flora and the Monocotyledons, 33%. Poaceae (19%), Fabaceae (13%), Asteraceae (11%), Rubiaceae (9%), Malvaceae (6%), Cyperaceae and Euphorbiaceae (5% each) dominate the listed species. Regarding the biological types, therophytes and nanophanerophytes are the best represented with respectively 45% and 22% of species. The quantitative floristic analysis shows that the species most harmful to cashew cultivation are Fleischmannia microstemon, Chromolaena odorata and Rottboellia cochinchinensis.

Influence of Various Mulching Techniques and NAA Application on Flowering and Nut Parameters of Cashew Cv. BPP- 8 under Odisha Condition

A trial was conducted at All India Coordinated Research Project on Cashew, (OUAT), Ransinghpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha in the year 2021-22 to access the effect of mulches and NAA application on cashew cultivar BPP- 8. The experiment consisted of nine treatments and three replications in a Randomized Block Design. The treatments were T1- Only irrigation, T2- Irrigation + Polythene mulch, T3- Irrigation+ NAA @ 100 ppm, T4- Irrigation + Stone mulch, T5- Irrigation + Residue mulch, T6- Irrigation + Polythene mulch + NAA @ 100 ppm, T7- Irrigation + Stone mulch + NAA @ 100 ppm, T8- Irrigation + Residue mulch + NAA @ 100 ppm, T9- No irrigation (control). Irrigation was applied at the rate of 200 litres per plant after that, the root zone of the plants were covered with different types of mulching materials. NAA @ 100 ppm was sprayed at three stages viz. pre-flowering, flowering stage and after fruit set. The result revealed significantly positive impact of various mulches along with irrigation and NAA application on cashew cultivation. Treatment T6 (Irrigation + Polythene mulch + NAA @ 100 ppm) most effectively improved total number of flowers per panicle (488.80), maximum male flowers (424.94), maximum hermaphrodite flowers (66.42), highest sex ratio (0.136), number of nuts per panicle (4.08), nut yield per tree (12.07 kg), nut retention (27.50 %), nut weight (8.52 g), nut length (3.33 cm) and nut breadth (2.68 cm).

An IoT based Tree Specific Soil Nutrient Management System Using Neural Network for Cashew Cultivation

Anacardium occidentale commonly known as Cashew was introduced into India by Portuguese in 16th century. Farmers of Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu in India, are interested in Cashew Cultivation due to its export market values. To achieve better yield from cashew cultivation, farmers need to supply balanced nutrition to the soil and by following intercropping method. In literature, Recent Technologies like Artificial Intelligence and IOT are widely used to predict dosage of the fertilizer to be applied. By examining the numerous connected ascribe success locations of Cashew orchards, it was possible to determine how much macronutrients like Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) were present in the soil and it will be helpful for the understanding of soil fertility level of the area. In our work, using IOT set up which includes Arduino UNO, NPK sensor and OLED display, we identified NPK values of soil for various cashew trees in a particular area. Along with NPK values of soil, inputs include the local soil type, PH and Tree age. Based on the input factors, DL trained model will provide suggestions of fertilizer dose to be applied for a specific tree for the Cashew cultivating farmers for better yield. In our proposed work, LSTM based Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) Algorithm is used to provide a better prediction of fertilizer. With the help of this research, we can be provided with what intercrop to plant and how much fertilizer to use, in what ratio to supply and fertilizer shop suggestion to enhance agricultural knowledge across the globe using the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence. The result of RNN model was compared with Random Forest, Linear Regression, Linear Random Classifier, Decision Tree Classifier with proving accuracy of 98.7 %. Together with a decrease in the farmers' input efforts, these strategies will increase the productivity of the fields.

Economic Analysis Of Cashew Cultivation In Tamil Nadu: A Micro Level Empirical Study

Agriculture is the primary sector of our country giving livelihood and employment opportunities for vast majority of Indian rural population. India was the first country to hit the world market with cashew kernels and it was shed who pioneered cashew processing as an industry. Even though not much is known of the origins of the industry, it has been recorded that cashew processing on a commercial scale was first started in the mid 1920s. India is the third largest producer and exporter of cashew in the world next only to Vietnam and Nigeria.. The average yield of all these varieties is 8 to 10 kg. Of cashew per tree, i.e. one tone of nuts per hectare. Therefore, the yield per cashew tree is estimated at 8 to 15 kg. Cashew plantation of Cuddalore District has been considered to be the key source of global gardens for VRI 3 cashew graft production in Tamilnadu and Panruti Cashews have unique demand in the world market for its nut quality. The present study tries to analyse the aspects of cashew cultivation in one of the Cashew intensive area of Tamilnadu, Panruti Taluk, Manadikuppam Revenue Village. The specific objectives are to know the social economic status of farmers in the study area; to analyse the farm size wise and cost wise and returns of cashew cultivation in the study area to explore the problems faced by farmers in the Cashew cultivation in the study area and to suggest possible policy measures for strengthening cashew cultivation in the study area. It is very obvious that he State has taken all efforts to increase agricultural production, enhance productivity and explore the untapped potential in general and cashew cultivation in particular. To conclude, to encourage the Cashew Economy further in the study region a combined efforts by the Department of Horticulture, Rural Development Agencies, Educational and Research Organisations, Service Organisations like Lions Club, Rotary Club, Jeycees etc functioning in the study area by arranging Farmers Awareness Campaigns, Exhibitions, Extension Activities etc, are needed and it is a fond hope that which can ensure for flourishing the Cashew cultivation in the study region

Soil Fertility Evaluation for Cashew Production at Iyapo Farm Estate, Offa, Kwara State

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L) is an important commodity crop with great potential as a foreign exchange earner. It is grown principally for it nuts and apple and is a hardy crop which is adapted to a wide range of agro-ecologies. The increase in the price of cashew nuts globally, has resulted in increased interest in the cultivation of cashew. The Management of Iyapo farms limited in its desire to key into this sector requested the technical assistance of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) to carry out soil fertility evaluation of the 50 hectares of land proposed for establishment of cashew. The farm was divided into three main sections (A, B and C) based on topography and four land use types (water logged, cassava plot, previously cultivated land and excavated land). Section A was parallel to River Oyun followed by section B in the middle of the farm, while the last section C ran parallel to the road from Ijagbo town. The land use types were scattered within the three blocks. The water logged area was however confined only to section A which was close to river Oyun.
 Soil samples were collected at soil depths of 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm soil depth and at a distance of 20 m apart. The soil collected was put in nylon bags and properly labelled. Soil samples collected were air dried, passed through 2 mm sieve and analyzed for some of its physical and chemical properties. In section A, total soil nitrogen at 0-40 cm soil depth ranged between 0.07 g kg-1 to 0.18 g kg-1 with a mean value of 0.11 gkg-1 soil while mean soil available phosphorus at 0-40 cm soil depth was 3.16 mg kg-1 The exchangeable potassium content across 0-40 cm soil depth ranged between 0.09cmol kg-1 to 0.35 cmol kg-1 with a mean value of 0.25 cmolkg-1 and 0.19 cmol kg-1 for 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm soil depth respectively. In section B, nitrogen across the various soil depths ranged between 0.04 gkg-1 to 0.12 gkg-1 with nitrogen content of the soil decreasing with increasing soil depth. This falls below the soil critical level of 1 gkg-1 required for cashew and was grossly inadequate to meet nitrogen need for cashew. There is need for nutrient supplementation as nitrogen fertilizer is required to meet the nitrogen needs of the cashew. Similarly, phosphorus was also inadequate across the soil depths with a range of 2.47 mgkg-1 to 4.51 mgkg-1 across the various soil depth and a mean value of 3.24 mgkg-1 and 2.65 mgkg-1 for 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm soil depths respectively. This was below the soil critical value of 3.7 mgkg-1. There is therefore need to apply phosphorus fertilizer to boost cashew productivity.
 Soil exchangeable potassium was adequate across the various soil depths with a range of 0.13 to 0.20 cmol kg-1 and a mean value of 0.18 cmol kg-1 and 0.16 cmol kg-1 for 0-20cm and 20-40 cm soil depths respectively. There is no need for potassium fertilizer application. The results above indicated that sections A, B and C requires 180 kg ha-1 of urea and 31.5 kg of Single Super Phosphate (SSP). The cassava plot and previously cropped bare land requires 189 kg ha-1 urea and 9.9 kg ha-1 SSP, while the excavated land requires 194.2 kg urea 25.8 kg SSP and 32.28 kg MOP. Cashew should not be grown on the water-logged section.

Weather-Informed Recommendations for Pest and Disease Management in the Cashew Production Zone of Côte d’Ivoire

Poorly informed pest and disease management strategies can have detrimental effects on the environment, crop quality, crop yield, farmers’ income, and the overall sustainability of agriculture. For this reason, integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) draws on knowledge from various research fields to effectively manage risks of bio-aggressor outbreaks. However, many agricultural sectors of Sub-Saharan African countries lack such necessary knowledge, including the epidemiology of bio-aggressors in relation to the increased climate variability. The objective of this work is to provide weather-based guidance for the development of sustainable pest and disease control strategies in cashew cultivation areas of Côte d’Ivoire, the second most important cash crop of the country. Leveraging the bioclimatic knowledge in the literature about fungi and insects, we explored four-year hourly data (2017–2020) of 34 sites of the cashew production zone. The outputs showed potentially conducive weather events for fungi and insects throughout the entire cashew production areas, with the forest–savanna transition zone being the most critical. These outputs were used to elicit recommendations for pest and disease management in consultation with a multidisciplinary stakeholder task force. They recommended that effort for disease prevention in the forest–savanna transition zone, the new cashew production zone, should be an incrementation of the one already recommended in the north savanna. Weather-based disease monitoring, entomopathogenic-fungi-based pest control, and the promotion of early-maturing cashew genotypes are also recommended, especially in the forest–savanna transition zone.

Energy budgeting and life cycle assessment of cashew cultivation under different planting densities

Energy budgeting is important for determining the sustainability and vulnerability of a crop production system. In the present study, an assessment of the energy requirements for cashew cultivation under three different planting densities was carried out during 2015-20. The study revealed that the total input energy consumption for cashew cultivation ranged from 75292.68 to 120903.58 MJ/ha. The energy productivity from 0.04 to 0.13 kg/MJ and energy use efficiency varied from 8.46 to 24.61% under three planting densities. The highest energy was consumed in terms of chemical fertilizers for all the planting densities followed by fuel (diesel), machinery, farmyard manure (FYM), pesticides, petrol and human energy. The analysis revealed the need to implement improved management practices to enhance the energy efficiency by reducing the energy consumption in inputs, by optimizing energy consumption and/or improving the crop yield by optimizing the cultivation methods and switching from non-renewable sources to renewable sources of energy. Among the three different planting densities, 2.5x2.5 m spacing consumed the highest energy followed by 5x5 m and 7.5x7.5m spacing. However, the planting density of 2.5x2.5 m spacing was more energy efficient over the years due to more yields per unit area.

Abundance and composition of forest‐dwelling anurans in cashew plantations in a tropical semi‐evergreen forest landscape

AbstractPlantation crops in tropical human‐modified landscapes provide alternative habitats to biodiversity outside protected areas. The Western Ghats of India are home to a mosaic of closely spaced habitats, including forests and agroecosystems. Cashew is a widely grown plantation crop in the northern Western Ghats and is known to provide economic and societal benefits. However, its role as a supplementary habitat for anurans is not well understood. We assessed the factors that influence understorey anuran composition and abundance in cashew plantations, forest edges, and forest interiors in Tillari Conservation Reserve, Maharashtra. Species composition of cashew plantations differed significantly from forests and was positively influenced by understorey and canopy cover. Cashew plantations had a near equal abundance of anurans as that of forest edges and interiors, which could be due to the preponderance of habitat generalists. Understorey positively influenced anuran abundance while ambient temperature had a negative influence. Reduced understorey and low canopy cover represent habitat modifications that occur in cashew plantations. Such structural changes could lead to reduced environmental refuges for anurans, thereby exposing them to large variations in temperature and moisture. Cashew plantations in Tillari Conservation Reserve serve as supplementary habitats for anurans. That said, cashew cultivation practices and markets must be understood before biodiversity‐friendly plantation practices are proposed.

Land tenure system and harvesting time’s influence on the marketing behaviour of cashew farmers in the Bono Region of Ghana

This study investigated the land tenure system, harvesting time and marketing behaviour of cashew farmers in Ghana. Primary data was compiled from 120 cashew farmers, and the multinomial probit was used to assess the determinants of cashew marketing outlets. Types of land ownership (tenure system) for cashew production in Ghana were leasehold, stool, family, state and customary lands. The sales of cashew nuts to buying companies and/or exporters is positively influenced by the land tenure system, good road network, weekly harvest, contract agreements and grading of cashew nuts. Conversely, the experience of farmers coupled with less than one week of harvesting influences the choice of brokers' outlet. The result implies that, cashew cultivation on stool land, likewise harvesting time increases the probability of selling to buying companies and exporters who offered higher margins compared with brokers. Consequently, generic land reform for the whole country to enhance agribusinesses may be important but unnecessary. It is also suggested that the customary land arrangement provided the opportunity to sell to a profitable marketing outlet, it is suggested that Government and NGOs should rather be interested in strengthening the current customary land regime and consultatively recommend for review where necessary in the study areas.

Comparison of Proximate and Phytonutrient Compositions of Cashew Nuts and Apples from Different Geographical Areas of Burkina Faso.

The cashew plant is an allogamous plant that produces two types of fruits: the nut and the cashew apple. The present study was conducted to perform a comparison of proximate and phytonutrient compositions of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nuts and apples from different geographical areas of Burkina Faso. For this purpose, 60 samples of apples and kernels were collected from the three main cashew cultivation areas. The nutritional potential of cashew nuts and apples produced was evaluated to enhance their food processing. Protein, carbohydrates, lipids, dietary fibers, ascorbic acid, tannins, anthocyanins, chlorophyll, lycopene, and β-carotene contents were assessed. The results revealed high contents of lipids (50.42 ± 2.3 g/100 gDW), proteins (22.32 + −1.8 g/100 gDW), and starch (12.05 ± 1.27 g/100 g DW) in almonds. Apples, on the other hand, are rich in lipids, ascorbic acid (387.45 ± 17.4 mg/100 g), soluble sugars (387.45 ± 17.4 mg/100 g,), and pigments (lycopene, anthocyanin, β-carotene, and chlorophyll). In summary, almonds may be suitable as a source of lipids and related products. Apples can be used as natural antioxidants and produce juices. All of these data are important clues for cashew by-product processing. These results obtained provide a scientific basis for their food and economical valorization of cashew fruits.

Profitable agricultural land use planning in a red and lateritic soil of subtropical environment using field-based index of crop suitability (ICS)

The study’s specific objective is to identify prospective cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale) producing areas in the Bankura district based on soil availability and land suitability in red and lateritic soil. The index of crop suitability (ICS) analysis was carried out utilizing the Fuzzy-analytical hierarchy process (F-AHP) approach and 16 geo-environmental variables such as soil texture, soil organic carbon (OC), Soil electrical conductivity (EC), soil pH, slope, rainfall, etc. The criteria were also developed following FAO's crop suitability index for the distinction between S (suitable) and N (unsuitable) order. According to the cashew suitability class, 9.24% of cashew growth regions can be categorised as highly suitable, 34.57% as moderately suitable, and 19.59% as marginally suitable. The F-AHP weight shows the important factors of cashew cultivation that are soil OC and EC. The results demonstrate that cashew production is more beneficial in the red and lateritic soil.

Budidaya Tanaman Jambu Mete Dan Pemasaran Dalam Meningkatkan Pendapatan Masyarakat Desa Hokeng Jaya

The purpose of this study was to reveal the existence of cashew cultivation in increasing income, as well as the amount of community income from cashew sales and the factors supporting and inhibiting cashew cultivation. The focus of the problem is that cashew plants receive less attention from cashew farmers. This type of research is an integrated quantitative and qualitative research. An integrated quantitative and qualitative descriptive research approach. Collecting data with three techniques, namely "observation, questionnaires" and interviews. Data analysis used the highest percentage formula. From the results of the calculation according to the predetermined criteria, it can be seen that the proposed hypothesis was accepted, where the number of respondents who answered "Yes" was 69.5%. And those who answered "no" were 24.5%. This means that there is a significant relationship between cashew cultivation and increasing the income of cashew farmers in Hokeng Jaya Village, Wulanggitang District, East Flores Regency

Classification, suitability and zoning of crops in the high course of the Paraíba River Basin – Brazil

Characterization, agroclimatic zoning and crop suitability are important for defining the agricultural potential of a given region or location, defining the planting season and types of crops suitable for the region. Based on the results of the Water Balance and the corresponding evapopluviogram, it was used to carry out the agroclimatic zoning and its aptitudes for crops suitable for planting in the area of ​​the hydrographic basin of the upper course of the Paraíba River. Monthly and annual rainfall data series were used, collected by the Northeast Development Superintendence and provided by the Executive Agency for Water Management of the State of Paraíba. Municipality to municipality). The average air temperature values ​​estimated by the Estima_ T software. The region has an annual water deficit of 794.0 mm, with no storage and excess of water in the soil. The indices of aridity, humidity and water were 65.38; 0.00 and -39.23%, respectively. The climate was classified as Semi-arid, Megathermal, with little or no excess of water and with 29.41% of the potential annual evapotranspiration concentrated in the hottest quarter of the year. There was restricted aptitude for the cultivation of pineapple, cashew, beans and corn; bananas and sugarcane are unsuitable for cultivation, while herbaceous cotton has moderate conditions. To ensure profitable agricultural productivity, the supply of water through irrigation is essential.

Cultural skills for the municipality of Recife - Pernambuco, Brazil

The objective is to characterize the climate and to carry out zoning and agroclimatic aptitude for pineapple, herbaceous cotton, banana, sugarcane, beans, corn, cassava, castor bean, sisal and sorghum crops, pointing out their possible cultivation skills in the city Recife - PE. A historical series of rainfall and mean air temperature was used to calculate climatological water balance, climatic classification, evapopluviogram construction and agroclimatic zoning of the crops. Recife - PE has full aptitude for the cultivations of pineapple, herbaceous cotton, beans, castor bean, cassava and sisal. For the cultivation of cashew, maize, sugarcane and sorghum we contacted moderate aptitude. Only banana cultivation is restricted due to the region having a marked water deficit. The elements temperature, rainfall were determinant for the calculation of the water balance and the definition of the pluviometric scenarios. The study provides support to decision makers by providing information on Climatological Water Balance, climatic classification, agroclimatic zoning and crop aptitude, favoring adequate planning of agricultural activities and consequently reduction of crop risks.

Chemical composition and bioactive compounds of cashew (Anacardium occidentale) apple juice and bagasse from Colombian varieties

Cashew nut production generates large amounts of cashew apple as residue. In Colombia, cashew cultivation is increasing together with the concerns on residue management. The objective of this study was to provide the first chemical, physical and thermal decomposition characterization of cashew apple from Colombian varieties harvested in Vichada, Colombia. This characterization was focused to identify the important bioactive and natural compounds that can be further valorized in the formulation of food, nutraceuticals, and pharmacological products. The results obtained in this study are helpful to portray the cashew apple as a potential by-product due to its renewable nature and valuable composition, instead of seeing it just as an agricultural residue. For that, cashew apples of Regional 8315 and Mapiria varieties were studied. The natural juice (cashew apple juice) that was extracted from the cashew apples and the remanent solids (cashew apple bagasse) were separately analyzed. The HPLC analytical technique was used to determine the concentration of bioactive compounds, structural carbohydrates, and soluble sugars that constitute this biomass. Spectrophotometric techniques were used to determine the concentration of tannins, carotenoids, and total polyphenols. Mineral content and antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS assays) were determined in the biomass. Also, the thermal decomposition under an inert atmosphere or pyrolysis was performed on cashew apple bagasse. The varieties of cashew apple studied in this work showed similar content of bioactive compounds, total phenolic content, and structural carbohydrates. However, the Mapiria variety showed values slightly higher than the Regional 8315. Regarding cashew apple juice, it is rich in tannins and ascorbic acid with values of 191 mg/100 mL and 70 mg/100 mL, respectively, for Mapiria variety. Additionally, the principal reservoir of bioactive compounds and constitutive carbohydrates was the cashew apple bagasse. About 50 wt.% of it was composed of cellulose and hemicellulose. Also, in the bagasse, the ascorbic acid content was in a range of 180–200 mg/100 g, which is higher than other fruits and vegetables. Moreover, alkaloids were identified in cashew apples. The maximum value of antioxidant activity (DPPH assay: 405 TEs/g) was observed in the bagasse of Mapiria variety. The bagasse thermal decomposition started around 150 °C when the structural carbohydrates and other constitutive substances started to degrade. After thermogravimetric analysis, a remanent of 20% of the initial weight suggested the formation of a rich-carbon solid, which could correspond to biochar. Therefore, the cashew apple harvested in Vichada is a valuable reservoir of a wide range of biomolecules that potentially could be valorized into energy, foods, and pharmacologic applications. Nevertheless, future work is necessary to describe the complex compounds of this residual biomass that are still unknown.

The trend in Area, Production, Productivity of Cashew Nut in India with Special Reference to Kerala

Aims: Cashew is one of the most valuable processed nuts on global commodity markets and has the potential to generate employment and revenue for developing countries. India is the second largest exporter of cashew kernels in the world and earns a sizeable amount of foreign exchange. In India, cultivation of cashew is confined to Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra along the west coast and Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal along the east coast. Cashew trees tend to be grown on marginal and less fertile land and may continue to produce for many years without the intensive inputs and labour that other crops require. Considering the promising future of the cashew market, the study aimed to analyse the trend and pattern of the cashew area, production and productivity in Kerala.
 Methodology: For the purpose of the study, secondary data were collected for the period of 2000 – 2020 (20 years) from authenticated source like Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
 Results: Among the total area (1125’000 ha) and production the (703’000 MT) in India, Kerala contributed only 8.5 percent area and 12.37 percent of production in the last year (2020). The trend in area, production and productivity shows a negative compound annual growth rate during the study period. This is mainly because; many of the farmers have shifted their crops to other lucrative crops like rubber and other plantations. As they found that these crops are profitable than cashew, moreover, compared to plantation crops, cashew still confined mostly to marginal and poor fertile lands and is considered as a wasteland crop and the recommended package of practice is not followed. This result in lowering the production and the productivity.
 Conclusion: Farmers will benefit if they tap the opportunities of increasing demand of cashew in India and at the world level with the government support. The government may provide subsidy to farmers, to replant the aged plants with high yielding varieties which will in turn result in high productivity. As the expansion of area under cashew cultivation is difficult to achieve due to little wasteland is available and on better soil (Vernon, 1997), the homesteads and barren lands under the possession of government can be utilised for the cashew cultivation. This will help to restore the top position by the Kerala state, in the production of cashew nut in India.

PRESENT STATUS, PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS OF CASHEW CULTIVATION IN BANGLADESH

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) remained underexploited in Bangladesh, though it is a vital crop in many countries. This study was conducted to reveal the present scenario, explore the prospects, and identify the problems of cashew cultivation in Bangladesh. Data were collected from randomly selected 63 cashew-producing farmers from three hilly districts, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari, under the Chittagong division of Bangladesh, using a structured interview schedule from February to April 2019. The majority of the farmers (65.1%) owned medium-size farms (1.01-3ha) and about half of them (46.0%) belonged to the higher annual income (>1,50,000 BDT; equivalent to 1,750.55 USD) group. The cashew yield was medium (1.40 to 1.80t ha-1) and an individual tree yield ranged from 3 to 8 kg with an average of 6.24 kg. More than two-thirds (68.3%) of the farmers earned 1,20,001-1,80,000 BDT ha-1 from cashew cultivation with an average of 1,68,000 BDT (equivalent to 1,960.62 USD). An average of 0.89 ha of land could still be taken under cashew cultivation. The net profit potential of 8,34,242 BDT ha-1 (equivalent to 9,706.69 USD) is possible from cashew cultivation which is much higher than other crops. The farmers confronted low (79.4%) to medium (20.6%) problems and among the 16 identified problems, ‘lack of processing for nut and apple’ was the most serious severe problem, followed by ‘lack of quality seeds or seedlings. The findings suggest that the government should take initiatives to overcome the prevailing problems regarding cashew cultivation.

Perception of Job-Seeking Graduates in Oyo State Nigeria to Cashew Production

Cashew is an important and commercially grown cash crop in Oyo state and Nigeria generally for its apple and most importantly the nuts. Cashew cultivation in recent years has experienced a yield decline due to few cashew farmers involved and moribund cashew trees. This paper aims to understand the perception of job-seeking graduates in Oyo state to cashew production and proffer recommendations that will help in promoting their participation. Some selected areas were considered in Oyo state and data were collected using a questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics of the respondent, awareness on cashew tree and its importance, opinion of respondents to cashew farming, perception of respondents to money-making opportunities in cashew production and categorization of the respondents based on their level of perception. 270 respondents were considered in the survey. Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical package. Results showed that 45.5% of the unemployed graduates were between the ages of 30-34 years. The study also showed that 90.7% know the economic importance of cashew while 89.3% know cashew farming as profitable. Farming ventures interest 73.3% of the unemployed graduates while 66.7% would want to venture into cashew farming. 52.2% of the job-seeking graduates had a favourable level of perception about cashew production. The perception of the job-seeking graduates is satisfactory as the favourability of their level of perception to cashew production is a little above average. Feasible loans or grants should be made available and easily accessible to job-seeking graduates to promote their involvement in cashew farming.