The Hindu Business Line : Cashew export body seeks aid for activities abroad

THE Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPC) has sought financial assistance from the Centre for promotional activities abroad to boost the exports of cashew kernels.

On the basis of the market surveys conducted by the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and KPMG in the US and Japan respectively, the Council is desirous of undertaking research and product development, promotion and publicity programme, participation in select international fairs, promotion in collaboration with leading department stores, nutritional studies done through research institutions of global reputation etc, Mr Bharthan Pillai, Chairman, CEPC, said at the 49th Annual General Meeting of the council here.

It has requested the Centre to allot funds for these promotional efforts from the Rs 100 crore made available for improvements of traditional industries, he said.

Given the stiff competition from Vietnam, which has become a "most serious threat to the Indian cashew exporters", an aggressive market promotion has become inevitable. In less than 10 years, Vietnamwas able to export 80,000 tonnes of cashew kernels and it is learnt that their target for 2004 is one lakh tonnes, according to Mr Pillai.

Their target this year is to expand cashew cultivation to 50,000 hectares and to increase the production to 6,00,000 tonnes.

"If Vietnam is able to keep up the present temp they are likely to attain the number one position as the world supplier of cashew kernels within a couple of years," he said.

He also appealed to the Centre to take into consideration the practical aspects of the Market Development Assistance guidelines and relax them suitably to enable the cashew exporters and CEPC to undertake effective export promotional activities

More Stories on : Cashew | Exports & Imports

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
FMC plans uniform working system for commodity bourses

`Poor irrigation facilities affecting farm sector'

Cheap 'N' Juicy

Spot rubber up on purchases

Rubber plantation strike called off

Gold may test resistance levels

Fall in groundnut oil prices dampens export optimism

Cashew export body seeks aid for activities abroad

Cardamom slide continues

Higher quotes hit guar gum powder exports — Processors blame futures exchanges for high prices