Karnataka: Cashew cultivation to be encouraged in Dharwad district

HUBBALLI: Having found the climactic conditions in Dharwad district to be conducive to the cultivation of cashew, the Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development (DCCD), a central agency, is collaborating with the Regional Horticultural Research and Extension Centre (RHREC) in Kumbhapur to encourage more farmers to undertake cultivation of cashew across the district.
Deputy director of DCCD, Kochi Dadasaheb Desayi pointed to Dharwad’s proximity to Uttara Kannada, which is part of the traditional cashew belt in the region, as being one of the reasons for encouraging cultivation of the commercial crop in the district.
“The red and laterite soil in Dharwad district is suitable for growing cashew. We tried cultivation of cashew in Gadag district, where the crop was planted extensively five years ago, and now, it is in the fruit-bearing stage. We have now undertaken the initiative in Dharwad under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture scheme. If the ryots in Dharwad approach us as a collective like farmer producers’ organisations and agree to cultivate cashew across more than 50 hectares, we will extend financial support,” Desayi told TOI.
Head of horticultural extension education unit at RHREC in Kumbhapur Prof Laxman Kukanoor said that the staff had organised seminars for farmers.
“In accordance with the DCCD’s directives, we held a demonstration on how to utilise the cashew apple. The response we have received from the farmers has been good, and more of them are stepping forward to grow the crop. Cultivation of cashews is a lucrative option for Indian farmers, given that we import 50% of the raw crop, but export the processed nuts. If we increase the area under cultivation of cashew, we will become self-sufficient in this domain,” Prof Kukanoor said.
He pointed out that Goa was the only state that used the otherwise discarded cashew apple fruit. “In Goa, it is used to make fenny. There are 3,900 seed processing units across the country, but those dedicated to processing cashew apples are few. Cashew apple is rich in Vitamin C. It has five times more content of Vitamin C than a lemon, and can be used to make jam,” Prof Kukanoor added.
Deputy director of the department of horticulture in Dharwad Kashinath Bhadrannavar said, “The department will finance up to 40% or a maximum sum of Rs 10 lakh, to farmers who wish to set up a processing unit for cashew or cashew fruit. Cashewnut is a soil binder, but it has now become a commercial crop. The cashew apple can be used to produce fenny and phenyl.”