The Hindu Business Line : Call to enhance cashew productivity by tech transfer

``IF it is possible for Vietnam to make inroads in cashew production after being trained by India, why not for our country with the vast pool of knowledge?'' This question dominated the inaugural proceedings of the three-day national group meeting of scientists of All-India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Cashew, at National Research Centre for Cashew (NRCC) in Puttur of Dakshina Kannada district, on Friday.

Experts at the meeting felt that better transfer of technology could bridge the gap between potential and actual yields of cashew. Dr V. Rajagopal, Director of Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod, who presided over the meeting, said Vietnam, which has made phenomenal increase in cashew production, is emerging a major competitor to India in international cashew trade. India, which has 30 per cent share in the world market, should enhance its productivity through better transfer of technology.

He said that research programmes need to be reoriented in view of the changing global scenario and to meet the challenges in international market. Entrepreneurs will have to be encouraged and guided to establish cashew-processing units in areas of abundant cashew production to enhance mutual benefit for the processor and grower, he added.

Dr M.G. Bhat, Acting Director of NRCC, who presented the project coordinator's report on AICRP on Cashew, said that though India trained Vietnam in cashew cultivation, now the latter ranks third in the world cashew production.

He said that 60 lakh cashew grafts are being produced and planted in the country every year. Stressing the need to replant old plantations of seedling origin — most of which are coming under Forest and Cashew corporations of various states — with grafts of recommended varieties, he said that the development departments in the states should have time-bound action plans in this regard.

Dr S.N. Pandey, Assistant Director General, (Horticulture and Plantation Crops), who inaugurated the meet, said that India needs 10 lakh tonnes of raw cashew nuts for processing. At present, the country is importing nearly 4.4 lakh tonnes of raw cashew nuts to meet the requirements.

To make cashew growing more profitable, operations such as cashew plantation, post-harvesting handling and processing have to be made fully mechanised. In the 10th Plan, the budget has been raised to Rs 5.68 crore for NRCC and to Rs 4.54 crore for AICRP on cashew. This will help promote cashew research, he added.

Value-added products from cashew apple

IS it possible to manufacture value-added products from cashew apple? Yes, say cashew scientists. In fact, it can be commercially exploited.

Though the people of Goa are using cashew apple for preparing "feni", cashew apple's potential has not been exploited in other cashew-growing regions. Experts feel that cashew apple preparations such as jam, jelly, chutney, juice and syrup — good sources of vitamin C — need to be popularised.

In addition to this, these preparations will augment the income of cashew cultivators.

According to Dr Rajagopal, preparation of these value-added products can help in boosting rural employment. Rural self-help groups should take initiative in the effective use of cashew apple in cashew-growing regions. Scope is vast for applying "wealth from waste" concept in this sector, he says.

Dr Pandey feels that the techniques of manufacturing these value-added products need to be refined and popularised.