The Hindu Business Line : Cashew body hopeful of holding on to top slot in global market

THE Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPC) is optimistic of the country retaining its top position in the world cashew market, in spite of competition from Vietnam.

Apart from strengthening the traditional markets such as the US and Europe, it is planning to regain the partially lost markets like Australia - which the country lost to Vietnam in the past few years.

Addressing presspersons here on Monday, Mr Walter D'Souza, CEPC Chairman, said the country would also focus on exploiting the new markets. "We have identified Asia for the future considering the rapid growth in the per capita consumption in the region. There will be special focus on exploring the market in this region," he said.

Asked if Vietnam will overtake India to reach the top slot, he said: "Nobody can overtake India, provided it gets the right input from the cashew growers and manufacturers."

Though India's share in the world cashew market came down from 60 per cent in 1990 to 55 per cent in 2000, its volumes have gone up substantially. Now India has a share of 44 per cent in the world market. Vietnam, which was not present in the scene during 1990, registered a market share of 20 per cent in 2000. Now it commands a 38 per cent share.

To remain on the top, the country should focus on increasing raw cashew nut productivity. The country is harvesting 700 kg of raw cashew nuts a hectare. However, it should have been at least 2,000 kg a hectare, he said.

Mr D'Souza said CEPC was interacting with cashew development corporations in the country to allow the industries and progressive growers to harvest cashew nuts in corporations' plantations. If that is done, at least 50 per cent jump can be expected in the yield.

Asked about the response for the move, he said, "We are yet to get any positive response from them."

Vision 2015

He said the CEPC would set an export target of Rs 5,000 crore, coupled with employment generation of 10 lakh by 2015. This can be made possible by increasing the domestic crop size to 12.5 lakh tonnes in a phased manner. Mr D'Souza said a concrete proposal would be made to the Agriculture Ministry through the Ministry of Commerce to increase production. He hoped the pragmatic initiative of the national horticultural mission would help achieve the target with liberal assistance of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 a hectare.

Cashew exports from the country have registered a growth of 14 per cent during April-August period. The country exported cashew nut to the tune of Rs 1,191 crore during the April-August period of the current fiscal against the target of Rs 1,045 crore, he added.

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