PANAJI: The secretary for Agriculture, Mr V K Jha has said that there is tremendous scope to bring in necessary improvement in production of cashew. Cashew, he said is an international item, imported from Brazil 300 years ago, and provides direct and indirect employment to innumerable youth and therefore, asked all those connected with the cashew industry to adopt innovative ideas and implement them in their own way to give cashew products a greater identity and boost production.
Speaking as chief guest after inaugurating a seminar on new challenges in cashew production under current trends in climate changes, jointly organised by ICAR Research Complex for Goa, Old Goa, Directorate of Cashew nut and Cocoa Development, Cochin and Zuari Industries Ltd, Goa, at Old Goa on Saturday, Mr Jha said that apart from ensuring development in cashew crop, there is also a need to make available better marketing facilities to the product.
The agriculture secretary also advised the cashew growers to encourage their children to take up cashew activity to increase yield. Since cashew is an international item it can bring in foreign currency and help Indian economy to grow, he said.
Mr Satish Tendulkar, director of Agriculture, who spoke on the cashew scenario in Goa, opportunities and constraints, said that besides increasing cashew production, cashew crop needs to be taken up on a large scale to maintain Goa’s greenery. He said that during the last 3 to 4 years, cashew production in Goa suffered a fluctuating trend due to climatic change.
Mr B K Kinekar, general manager, Sales, Zuari Industries Ltd, stressed the need to take up cashew crop on commercial lines to boost its production.
Mr Madhav Sahakari, a progressive farmer said that though cashew plantation in Goa is increased, the processing capacity of cashew has not been increased.
Mr Venkatesh Hubballi, director, Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development, Cochin, spoke on the present scenario of cashew development in India.
Some of the publications brought out by ICAR, Old Goa were released by the agriculture secretary and other dignitaries on the occasion.
The daylong seminar deliberated on various issues, such as, cashew scenario in Goa, opportunities and constraints, present scenario of cashew development in India, Feni industry in Goa - prospects and constraints, advances in cashew production technologies, recent approaches on canopy management and rejuvenation in cashew, impact of weather changes in incidence of cashew pests and diseases and climate variability and cashew production across west coast.
