India: Follow scientific methods, farmers told

Farmers should follow scientific methods for cashew cultivation to increase the yield and fetch more income, said Agriculture University Board of Regent Member S D Sampath Samrajya.

Speaking at the state-level training on cashew crop and Kshethrotsava, organised jointly by the Agriculture Research Centre (Kapikad), Cashew and Cocoa Development Directorate (Cochin), Agriculture Science Centre (Kankanady and Brahmavar), SKDRDP, Horticulture Department and Agriculture Department of Zilla Panchayat here on Monday, he said farmers can reap high yield by following the scientific methods of cultivation. By providing irrigation, one can increase the yield by 30 per cent.

The annual production of cashewnut in Karnataka is less compared to Kerala and Goa. The average production per hectare is 860 kg. However, by following scientific methods, one can get yield of 1,500 kg per hectare. Cashew is grown in 8.6 lakh hectare in the country and the annual production is 6.5 lakh tonne. There is an ample of opportunity for the cashew production in Karnataka. We are producing only 25 per cent of the requirement. Remaining 75 per cent is imported from other countries.

He said the production of cashewnuts should be increased to fetch more foreign exchange. Cashew earns 2000 crore foreign exchange.

Samrajya said in Karnataka cashew production is only 35,000 tonnes compared to its demand of 1,25,000 tonnes. Cashew processing units face shortage of labour, such units must make use of machinery.

Agriculture Research Station (Brahmavar) Assistant Research Director Dr T R Guruprasad said there is lack of information among the farmers on cashew. With less effort and less water, cashew can be grown scientifically.

Cashew is an important horticulture crop. Normally, one can reap 3 to 4 kg cashewnut per plant. However, the seeds developed by the Agriculture Research Centre (Ullal), the yield will be 15 kg per plant.

The annual production of cashewnut in the country is 6 lakh tonne. However, the demand is 15 lakh tonne, he added.

Exhibition

There was an exhibition of cashew juice making machine, cashewnut cutting machine on the occasion. The exhibition also had presentation on cashew production, methods of planting cashew saplings, how to get more yield. As many as 54 varieties of seeds and cashew fruits were on display for the public.

Horticulture College Director Dr J Venkatesh presided. Horticulture department Joint Director Dr Hema, Dr T C Narayana Swamy, Cashew Producers Association President Gopalakrishna Kamath and others were present.


Source: mangalorean.com

Publication date: 3/11/2009