Cashew

Introduction

India is the world’s largest cashew producer and exporter, producing an estimated 385,000 metric tons of seeds on more than 500,000 hectares in 1994. India is the leading cashew supplier to the United States, all of the major European markets, the Middle East, Russia, Eastern Europe, Australia and Japan.

Production area

Within India, the States of Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Tamil Nadu as well as in the Northeast are top cashew cultivators.

Growth promotional activities

Last year government’s monopoly granting policy on purchasing seeds in Kerela State was discontinued. India set new cashew export records each year from 1992 to 1994, peaking in marketing year April 1994 to March 1995 with 76,900 metric tons worth more than US$400 million. In fact, according to the Indian Cashew Export Promotion Council, cashews were India’s largest agricultural foreign exchange earner during 1994-1995.

Types

Varieties of cashew grown in India are Vengurla 1, Vengurla 2, Vengurla 3, Vengurla 4, Vengurla 5, Vengurla 6, Bhubaneshwar, Kanaka and Dhana.