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Farmers roast fruits of cashew cultivation
India
Monday 14 July 2008
“About 6,000 hectare of land across Valsad and Dangs districts, considered socio-economically backward pockets of the state, have produced a record 14,000 tons cashewnut this season. And this is just the labour of the last 3-4 years,” says senior officer of horticulture department of Valsad, SS Gamit.
In neighbouring Surat too, around 100 hectare of land has been brought under cashewnut cultivation. The production, however, rose only a couple of years back. According to the local horticulture expert Hasmukh Karecha, pockets like Kaparda, Dharampur, Vansda, and Songarh in South Gujarat are some of the suitable areas for cashew nut farming
.
“Cashewnut produced in Gujarat is better in terms of taste, whiteness and crunchiness compared with fruits from Goa. However, size of Goan cashewnut is bigger than those produced in Gujarat. After commissioning of processing units in Dang and Valsad, farmers have started getting attractive returns. It is expected that the production will grow with increase in demand,” says Mr Karecha.
Meanwhile, farmers of Pavi Jetpur area in Central Gujarat have also started taking interest in cashew nut farming. Tribal in Dang and Valsad districts get employment with the arrival of cashew nut roasting and other processing facilities.
“Cashewnut produced in Gujarat is better in terms of taste, whiteness and crunchiness compared with fruits from Goa. However, size of Goan cashewnut is bigger than those produced in Gujarat. After commissioning of processing units in Dang and Valsad, farmers have started getting attractive returns. It is expected that the production will grow with increase in demand,” says Mr Karecha.
Meanwhile, farmers of Pavi Jetpur area in Central Gujarat have also started taking interest in cashew nut farming. Tribal in Dang and Valsad districts get employment with the arrival of cashew nut roasting and other processing facilities.
