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Ch. R.S. Sarma

Srikakulam , Aug. 1

MORE than a hundred cashew units at Palasa in Srikakulam district — a major processing centre in Andhra Pradesh — downed shutters from Monday for an indefinite period, as they are unable to stay in the market due to a slump in prices in the domestic and international markets.

According to cashew merchants here, processed cashew is available in the international markets at Rs 200-205 a kg whereas they are unable to supply it at less than Rs 230-235 a kg.

Therefore, there is very little demand for cashew produced and processed at Palasa, Tuni and Vetapalem in the State.

According to Mr M. Nookaraju, the President of the Cashew Merchants' Association, much of the cashew nut here finds its way to Kerala but at present cashew nut is being imported into that State on a large scale.

"The processing units in Kerala are getting cashew nuts from South Africa at Rs 3,000 per bag of 80 kg. The rate here is Rs 3,500 per bag and therefore, there is no way we can keep the units going in the present market," he said.

According to him, for the past four months, the prices have been on the slide in the international market resulting in the present crisis. From Rs 240-245 a kg, it has gone down to the present level of Rs 205 a kg.

According to agricultural experts, the traditional cashew nut varieties grown in the State are nondescript and the yields are very poor.

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