The Hindu Business Line : MCMA plea on cashew

THE 49th annual general meeting of the Mangalore Cashew Manufacturers' Association (MCMA) has suggested that additional production of one-lakh tonnes of raw cashewnut be made available in Karnataka. This could be done by high-density plantation.

An MCMA press release said here on Wednesday that the meeting also resolved to request the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India to open its office in Mangalore to ensure smooth growth in exports.

It is estimated that Mangalore will export processed cashew nuts worth Rs 200 crore and import raw cashew nuts in excess of 25,000 tonnes during this calendar year. This is a record 60 per cent growth compared to the figures of last year. The release said that the exports from Mangalore could cross Rs 300-crore mark, provided necessary impetus was given in this regard.

Office-bearers elected

Mr Kalbavi Prakash Rao, Managing Partner of Kalbavi Cashews, was unanimously elected President of the association on the occasion.

The other office-bearers are: Mr D. Gopal Krishna Kamath, Partner, Mangalore Cashew Industries, Siddapur (Vice-President); Mr Krishnananth P. Mallar, Partner, Mallar Exports Pvt Ltd, Mangalore (Treasurer); Mr B. Rahul Kamath, Partner, Bola Raghvendra Kamath & Sons, Karkala (Secretary); and Mr P. Subraya Pai, Partner, Venkateshwara Cashew Processors, Vittala (Joint Secretary).

Mr H. Satish Pai, Mr Kiran Kumar Kodgi, Mr Ananth Krishna Rao, Mr K. Sudhakar Kamath, Mr B. Prakash Prabhu, Mr K. Ganesh Kamath, Mr Raghavendra Hemmana, Mr Bola Srinivas Kamath, Mr Bola Sreepathi Kamath, Mr A. M. Kumar, Mr M. Vinayak Prabhu and Mr Rajaram Bhat are the members of the administrative committee of the association.