Shoma Patnaik
Panaji
Ahead of the cashew season in the state, the stem and root borer pest has become a worry for the farmers.
“The stem and root borer has turned into a major pest in Goa for the past three-four years because of which many cashew trees are wilting. There is no solution to it because once a tree gets infected, it dies,” said director of agriculture Nevil Alphonso.
He said the department will soon be launching a campaign on pest management and preventive measures against the debilitating pest.
“Regular inspection and surveillance of the trees are important in tackling the stem and root borer disease. Zonal officers are trying to educate the farmers on preventive measures,” said Alphonso.
Goa’s cashew crop this season is expected to arrive in the first half of March and the agriculture department expects the yield to be satisfactory.
Cashew Manufacturers’ Association president Rohit Zantye said with favourable weather, prevailing cashew processors are hoping to get a good crop.
However, farmers in Quepem, Canacona and Sanguem talukas have said that it would take about a month to harvest the crop. “Few flowers are seen as of now and the crop will be delayed. It is making it difficult for us to understand the trend,” said a farmer from Canacona.
Production of cashew in the state was 25,800 tonne in 2022-23, from around 56,000 ha of land under cultivation. The state government provides assured price of Rs 150 per kg for cashew nuts to farmers who sell their produce to registered traders.
Cashew is a commercially viable crop for Goa’s farmers due to the strong demand within the state as well as international exports. However, for the past two-three years, farmers have been complaining of poor price realisation leading to loss in income from cultivation.
Pest attacks, climate change, lack of irrigation facilities, traditional and unscientific methods of cultivation and high cost of labour are some of the challenges that cashew growers face in the state.
In the last two years, competition from cheap nuts coming in from outside the state has also emerged as a threat to the local cashew farmers.