The Hindu Business Line : Unseasonal rainfall hits cashew output

PEOPLE in the drought-affected regions of Karnataka and Kerala might have been benefited from the heavy rainfall during April and May, but not the cashew industry.

According to an estimate, the cashew industry has suffered losses to the tune of 25 per cent in production due to unseasonal rainfall in April and May.

Sources in the industry here said nearly 15 per cent of cashew crop in Goa and Karnataka and 10 per cent in Kerala were lost on the trees, and farmers and cashew factory owners lost around 10 per cent of the crop due to lack of sun drying.

Heavy rainfall made the task of drying cashew nuts difficult. As a result of this, cashew stocks started piling up. Normally cashew manufacturers, including the owners of cashew factories, take up two-day sun drying to remove moisture from cashew nuts. Presence of moisture in cashew damages kernel inside and changes colour from white to cream.

Though cashew manufacturers took initiative to dry cashew nuts in far away places such as Harihar in Davangere district of Karnataka and some places in Tamil Nadu, it did not help them much.

The Honorary Secretary of the Mangalore Cashew Manufacturers' Association (MCMA), Mr B. Rahul Kamath, told Business Line that manufacturers would have to spend extra for drying cashew nuts in these places. Only a few could afford this as drying there incurs transportation costs, he said.

According to the MCMA President, Mr Muralidhar Prabhu, manufacturers will have to spend around Rs 2 for transporting a kg of cashew nuts to these areas. This year, even Harihar is receiving a good rainfall, he said.

Rainfall during April and May will have bearing on the export commitments of cashew manufacturers also. Nearly 80 per cent of cashew yields during April and May in the coastal belt.

Mr Prabhu said crop yield this year was less following rainfall during April-May, and the yield lacked quality. Those manufactures having export commitment have been affected by these factors, he said.

The average annual yield of cashew crop in India is four lakh tonnes. Of this, the contribution of Kerala is around 75,000 tonnes and Karnataka 35,000 tonnes.

The office-bearers of MCMA said they had submitted a proposal to the Government seeking facilities under the ASIDE (Assistance to States for Infrastructure and Development of Export) Scheme, for drying. In the proposal, they have urged the Government to set up hot air processing and warehouse facilities for cashew manufactures.

More Stories on : Cashew | Climate & Weather

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Govt to review fertiliser policies

Low arrivals boost rubber prices

Govt may ask sugar mills to hike supply to PDS

Unseasonal rainfall hits cashew output

Pepper prices drop on selling pressure

Farm, Food Ministries merger: A step in right direction