Kerala State Agency for Cashew Cultivation (KSACC) is planning to launch some major projects with an outlay of Rs 95.65 crore for expanding production of raw cashew in the state. The agency, constituted in 2007 with headquarters in Kollam, had submitted a mega-project to the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) for boosting cashew production in the state through cashew cultivation in 10,000 hectares and rejuvenation of cashew trees in another 20,000 hectares. The NHM has approved the proposal with a financial outlay of Rs 95.65 crore of which NHM assistance will be Rs 57.83 crore.
KSACC chairman and Cashew Special officer Mohandas said the area under cashew cultivation had dwindled from 1 lakh hectares to 58,000 hectares with the expansion of rubber plantations.
The cashew industry which is employing 3 lakh workers, of which 90 percent are women, is facing a crisis following the fall in the domestic production of raw cashewnuts. He said the best way to overcome the situation was to bring in more areas under cashew cultivation by encouraging farmers to adopt cashew cultivation in homesteads, barren lands under the possession of Government, PSUs, offices and schools.
For production of planting material, five model nurseries will be set up in 20 hectares. A total of 20 small nurseries of one hectare each will be set up at a cost of Rs 72 lakh. New cashew gardens will be established in 10,000 hectares at a cost of Rs 15 crore. Replanting and rejuvenation of plantations in 10,000 hectares at a cost of Rs 30 crore is another component of the scheme. Construction of vermicompost plants, which is part of the scheme, will cost Rs 24 crore. A total of 4000 units will be set up this year and each unit will be provided a sum of Rs 30,000.
Twenty technology dissemination and frontline demonstrative plantations will be set up in 1 hectare each. Cashew drying yards and godowns will be set up on a cluster basis. Irrigation will be provided in 1000 hectares at a cost of Rs 10 crore. For post-harvest management, a sum of Rs 6 crore has been allocated . (From Express Buzz).
KSACC chairman and Cashew Special officer Mohandas said the area under cashew cultivation had dwindled from 1 lakh hectares to 58,000 hectares with the expansion of rubber plantations.
The cashew industry which is employing 3 lakh workers, of which 90 percent are women, is facing a crisis following the fall in the domestic production of raw cashewnuts. He said the best way to overcome the situation was to bring in more areas under cashew cultivation by encouraging farmers to adopt cashew cultivation in homesteads, barren lands under the possession of Government, PSUs, offices and schools.
For production of planting material, five model nurseries will be set up in 20 hectares. A total of 20 small nurseries of one hectare each will be set up at a cost of Rs 72 lakh. New cashew gardens will be established in 10,000 hectares at a cost of Rs 15 crore. Replanting and rejuvenation of plantations in 10,000 hectares at a cost of Rs 30 crore is another component of the scheme. Construction of vermicompost plants, which is part of the scheme, will cost Rs 24 crore. A total of 4000 units will be set up this year and each unit will be provided a sum of Rs 30,000.
Twenty technology dissemination and frontline demonstrative plantations will be set up in 1 hectare each. Cashew drying yards and godowns will be set up on a cluster basis. Irrigation will be provided in 1000 hectares at a cost of Rs 10 crore. For post-harvest management, a sum of Rs 6 crore has been allocated . (From Express Buzz).
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