The Hindu Business Line : Call for long-term approach to double cashew output

CONCERNED over the stagnancy in raw cashewnut production, members of the Indian cashew industry — who participated in the India Cashew Convention in Goa recently — have urged the stakeholders to initiate steps to double cashew production by 2020.

India Cashew Convention, hosted by the Goa Cashew Manufacturers' Association, was supported by the Mangalore Cashew Manufacturers' Association (MCMA).

The MCMA President, Mr Prakash Rao Kalbavi, told Business Line that all stakeholders of cashew industry have agreed to work towards adopting a long-term approach on increasing raw cashewnut production.

Raw cashewnut-producing States have also been urged to increase priority to production, and the Chief Minister of Goa, Mr Manohar Parikar, has promised to double the raw cashewnut production in his State by 2010, he said.

Stating that raw cashewnut production in Karnataka has remained stagnant at 35,000 tonnes per annum, he said manufacturers were importing raw cashewnuts in a big way. MCMA is planning to distribute cashew saplings to farmers to boost production of raw cashewnuts.

The convention also sought the need for estimating raw cashewnut production in emerging areas, especially in Maharashtra. It also stressed the need for conducting a study on cashew consumption in the country.

Mr Rao said that members of the cashew industry were unanimous in recommending to the governments in cashew-producing States to fix the rate of tax on cashew kernels at 4 per cent under the value-added tax regime.

The convention also felt the need for promoting cashew consumption through annual cashew festivals. To promote Indian cashew in the overseas market, the convention suggested that a small levy be imposed on exports with a matching grant from the Government, he added.