India: Orissa cashew producers ask for facilities to boost export

Cashew producers and processors of Orissa, one of the largest cashew producing states in India, have asked for concrete steps and facilities to improve export of processed nuts from the state. Rajendra Sabat, president of Orissa Cashew Processors' Association, said that although Orissa was the third largest cashew producing and processing state in the country, after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, it has been unable to export abroad. Sabat, said, "If the government creates an environment to export cashew, not only the processors, but also the state could get the benefits."

According to the association, export was not possible due to lack of facilities for proper packaging of the product, robbing it off its export values. "Despite recession, cashew export touched Rs 2,507 crore by January. The major buyers of Indian cashew are the US, Netherlands, Japan and the UK with most of the cashews exported from Kerala and Tamil Nadu," Sabat added.

At present, there are about 240 cashew processing units which produce over 80,000 tonnes of cashew per annum. Most of the processing units are located in southern Orissa districts including Ganjam (80), Gajapati (58) and Koraput (48). Every year, the processing units remained idle for about 3-4 months due to shortage of raw material in the state.

According to state officials, the yield rate of cashew in the state is around 550 kg per hectare, compared to the national average of 650 to 700 kg per hectare. The cashew plantation was in about 1.60 lakh hectares in the state which is sufficient to cater to the need of the processing units, the yield suffered due to poor management of plants.

The association has asked the government to make the boiling processes of cashew for processing mandatory instead of the roasting process. "Several cashew producing states like Andhra Pradesh have already introduced the boiling process. The boiling process is cost-effective and non-polluting." The association also demanded simplification of rules and tax structure on processing units as a processing unit has to obtain a number of certificates.


Source: fnbnews.com

Publication date: 3/11/2009