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Our Bureau

Mangalore , Oct.18

THE Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPC) has submitted a Rs 10-crore project proposal to the Union Government to study the nutritional values of cashew nut.

Addressing newspersons here on Monday to announce the golden jubilee plans of the council, Mr Walter D'Souza, CEPCI Chairman, said several studies indicate that tree nuts, including cashew nuts, are not only cholesterol-free, but also good for the heart. The time has come to initiate globally acceptable scientific studies to prove this point. It is also necessary to publicise the findings through promotional studies, he said.

Mr D'Souza added that CEPCI is committed to propagating the nutritional values of cashew nut.

Stating that the council is optimistic about the early sanction to the study, Mr D'Souza said he would meet the Union Commerce Minister in this regard. The study will be taken up with equity participation by CEPCI.

Promotional efforts will be made to increase the share of cashew in chocolate, confectionery and ice creamsegments with a target of 25,000 tonnes of broken cashew nuts for use in the global food industry. This would also ensure better export realisation, he said.

The council will interact with the stakeholders and agencies involved in the production of raw cashew nut for the post-harvest treatment.

Mr D'Souza said a global buyer-seller meet would be held in Kochi during February or March next year. The meet may generate opportunities to export additional cashew worth Rs 300 crore and help cross the Rs 3,000-crore mark in exports this fiscal, he pointed out.

To commemorate the golden jubilee celebrations, Cashew Bhavan — a new R&D centre — will be built at Kollam in Kerala at cost of Rs 6.25 crore. Research and development will be taken up at the centre for the technological upgradation of cashew processing units, he said.

The council will assist in the establishment of cashew museums in Goa and Kollam. The Goa Government has, in fact, agreed to take up the project in Panjim.

The council has also proposed to support the cashew festivals planned by the Karnataka Cashew Manufactures' Association in Bangalore in December and the Goa Cashew Manufactures Association at Panjim in March.

Mr D'Souza said the council would make efforts to promote the

"Made In India" brand of cashew nuts in the international market. Stating that the country's cashew exports have been in bulk in the last 50 years, he said there was potential for value addition in consumer packs to the tune of Rs 500 crore.

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