The trend in Area, Production, Productivity of Cashew Nut in India with Special Reference to Kerala

Abstract

Aims: Cashew is one of the most valuable processed nuts on global commodity markets and has the potential to generate employment and revenue for developing countries. India is the second largest exporter of cashew kernels in the world and earns a sizeable amount of foreign exchange. In India, cultivation of cashew is confined to Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra along the west coast and Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal along the east coast. Cashew trees tend to be grown on marginal and less fertile land and may continue to produce for many years without the intensive inputs and labour that other crops require. Considering the promising future of the cashew market, the study aimed to analyse the trend and pattern of the cashew area, production and productivity in Kerala. Methodology: For the purpose of the study, secondary data were collected for the period of 2000 – 2020 (20 years) from authenticated source like Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Results: Among the total area (1125’000 ha) and production the (703’000 MT) in India, Kerala contributed only 8.5 percent area and 12.37 percent of production in the last year (2020). The trend in area, production and productivity shows a negative compound annual growth rate during the study period. This is mainly because; many of the farmers have shifted their crops to other lucrative crops like rubber and other plantations. As they found that these crops are profitable than cashew, moreover, compared to plantation crops, cashew still confined mostly to marginal and poor fertile lands and is considered as a wasteland crop and the recommended package of practice is not followed. This result in lowering the production and the productivity. Conclusion: Farmers will benefit if they tap the opportunities of increasing demand of cashew in India and at the world level with the government support. The government may provide subsidy to farmers, to replant the aged plants with high yielding varieties which will in turn result in high productivity. As the expansion of area under cashew cultivation is difficult to achieve due to little wasteland is available and on better soil (Vernon, 1997), the homesteads and barren lands under the possession of government can be utilised for the cashew cultivation. This will help to restore the top position by the Kerala state, in the production of cashew nut in India.