Goa’s cashew production much lower than national average
PANAJI
Citing major concern over Goa’s cashew production, which is far below the national average, the Goa Forest Development Corporation (GFDC) will take up rejuvenation of nearly 1,780 ha of cashew plantation in the coming three years.
Addressing a press conference, GFDC chairman Deviya Rane said that GFDC has introduced a scheme called ‘Financial Assistance for Rejuvenation of Cashew Plantation (Year 2024-25 to 2032-33); with Rs 1.50 crore budgetary provision made in the current fiscal.
She said that the Corporation owns around 6,500 ha of cashew plantation, which is almost 12.5 per cent of the total 56,000 ha of cashew plantation.
“In the last three years, we have rejuvenated 450 ha and this year we are rejuvenating 280 ha more. In the next two years we will take up another 1,500 ha of cashew plantation for rejuvenation,” she said, adding Goa’s cashew production currently stands at 430 kg per ha, much lower than the national average of 750 kg per hectare.
The process will include rejuvenating the old cashew plantation by replacing old senile, moribund non yielding cashew trees with high yielding variety of cashew for higher productivity and yield to maximize profits.
Rane said that there are various reasons for declining production that includes shrinking plantations, infestation is killing trees, lack of support to the farmers and unscientific farm practices are choking the once gainful, employment-oriented industry. She said that the government has hiked the support price from Rs 120 per kg to Rs 170 per kg to farmers.
Pointing out regional disparities in production, Rane noted that talukas like Canacona, Quepem, Pernem, Ponda and Sattari are into large scale production while others lag behind due to a lack of awareness and training.
“Despite having a legacy in cashew, which was brought to Goa by the Portuguese during 16th century, we are way below the national average in production. It’s time to lay focus on increasing the production and for which rejuvenation of plantation is very important,” Rane said while appealing to the agriculture department to provide necessary training to the farmers to know about the latest technologies or techniques to increase production.
Rane said that efforts should be also made to welcome nut processing units to Goa. Though there is demand for cashew nuts, the supply is very less, she maintained.
The successful implementation of the rejuvenation scheme with adoption of scientific production technology will ensure the raw nut yield of 1 to 1.5 tonnes per hectare from 5th year, thereby proportional monetary returns, besides this, cashew apple average yield of 5 to 6 tonnes per ha will bring an additional income from the plantations.
Meanwhile, Rane announced that the third edition of Cashew Fest will be held from April 25-27 at Campal.
