Jharkhand model of cashew cultivation may be used in other states

New Delhi: Cashew cultivation is not new. But it has been largely cultivated in coastal areas which have sandy loam soil. On an experimental basis ,the forest department has now proposed to grow cashew trees in rocky terrain.

Sahebganj district in Jharkhand , a new state which has been carved out of Bihar, may be a model in this regard. The department has set up three nurseries in the district in three different blocks where cashew seeds have been grown.

The seeds have grown to one and a half feet height and will be planted after they grow little more. The initial plan is to plant 1000 saplings in the district. They will bear fruit in three to four years. If the experiment succeeds cashew trees will be grown in some other parts of the state and outside.

Bundelkhand area in Uttar Pradesh may be found suitable for cultivation of this dry fruit. Ten states in the country produce cashew so far . This state does not figure in the list.

Cashew cultivation is a highly profitable business. Cashew trees in one acre area may fetch as much as Rs five lakh a year.

India is the third major cashew nut exporting country after Vietnam and Nigeria. In the country, major cashew nuts producing states are Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

Cashew cultivation began first in Brazil. Now it is being cultivated in 10 major countries including India. Average height of a cashew tree is 13 feet. The dwarf variety has a lower height.

Maharashtra is the largest producer. It had produced 2.25 lakh tonnes of cashew in 2015 as per the latest figures made available officially.

Jharkhand which has 12000 hectares under cashew so far had produced 5000 tonnes during the same period. Odisha,Rajasthan, Goa, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are the other major producers.

The liquid extracted from the cashew nut shells are being used in paint industry. It has also got some other industrial uses.