Cashew Research in India: Achievements and Strategies

The cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.), though native of Brazil, has acclimatized well in India. Cashew was introduced to India by Portuguese travellers during 16ᵗʰ Century for afforestation and soil conservation purpose. In India, cashew is grown along the coastal regions mainly in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala in the West Coast and Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal in the east coast. With the establishment of All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Cashew, Its cultivation has also been extended in non-traditional areas such as Bastar region of Chhattisgarh and Kolar (Plains) region of Karnataka, Gujarat, Jharkhand and in NEH region. India is the first country in the world to exploit the international trade of cashew kernels in the early part of 20ᵗʰ Century. India exports 1.312 lakh tonnes of cashew kernels per annum to over 65 countries and is a leading trader for over a century. The major countries that import Indian cashew are United States of America, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Japan, France, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Russia, Germany, Canada and Greece. Globally, India's share in the cashew area and production is 20 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively. During the year 2012–13, total production of cashew in the country was 7.28 lakh tonnes from 9.82 lakh ha of land with a productivity of 772 kg/ha. The productivity is almost standstill over the few years. This needs introspection to identify the gaps and sharpen our approaches to meet the needs of future. Globally, India is largest processor of raw cashewnut but meets only 50 per cent raw cashewnuts required by processing industries and hence balance quantity is imported from African and other countries. Since some of the African countries have also taken up processing, import of raw cashewnuts may gradually decline in future. Therefore, there is immediate need for quantum jump in cashew production to bridge the gap. To address the issue, the appropriate strategy should be adopted by increasing area under high yielding cultivars/varieties and enhancing productivity by adopting advance production technologies such as use of quality planting materials, high density planting, integrated nutrient management, drip irrigation, canopy management, appropriate soil conservation measures, integrated management of tea mosquito bug and cashew stem and root borers etc. Mechanization of processing, product diversification, by-product utilization, post harvest management of cashew apple and cashew based cropping systems are other related issues to be addressed scientifically. In the present paper, the scenario of cashew research in India, delineation of cashew area and climate influences, the achievements made in production, protection and post harvest technologies by Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur and All India Coordinated Research Project on Cashew with its 14 Centres located in SAUs/ICAR institutes of 12 cashew growing states, and strategies for enhancing productivity of cashew have been discussed.