Area under cashew cultivation should be expanded to achieve self-sufficiency: Union Minister

Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates silver jubilee building of ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research in Puttur

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday said the country that is moving towards Atmanirbhar Bharat should become self sufficient in raw cashewnut production too. More efforts were needed to expand area under cashew cultivation for this purpose, he said.

Inaugurating the silver jubilee building of ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur, in virtual mode, Mr. Tomar said there was urgent need to come out with technologies to make India self-sufficient in raw cashew. Though India produces 7.5 lakh tonnes of raw cashew, it heavily depends on imported nuts to cater to the needs of processing industries.

Commending the directorate for releasing many cashew varieties, Mr. Tomar said scientists should research to give technologies like high-density planting, high yielding varieties, and better cultivation practices so that farmers are benefited and get better income.

Cashew processing industry, by giving more employment opportunities to women laborers, has been remarkable in contributing towards “Mahila Sashaktikaran” (Women Empowerment), the Minister said.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje congratulated the staff of the directorate and cashew farmers for having got the new infrastructure.

She highlighted the problems faced by cashew farmers and industrialists and told that the Directorate should conduct further research and come out with high yielding, bold nut type varieties so that farmers could get better price.

Another Minister of State Kailash Choudhary said there existed a wide scope for area expansion and efforts should be made to disseminate new technologies to farmers under ‘lab to land’ concept of the Prime Minister. He said nearly 10,000 FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations) were being promoted and cashew farmers also would be eligible for special FPOs.