Biodiversity International Coordinator and former Vice Chancellor of University of Horticultural Sciences (Bagalkot) Prof S B Dandin has stressed on promotion of organic cashew production by focusing on eco-friendly pest management strategies.
Speaking at the national-level training programme on “advances in cashew production technology,” organised by Directorate of Cashew Research in Puttur in collaboration with Directorate of Cashew and Cocoa Development, Kochi here on Thursday, he said new strategies will help farmers to fetch premium price for cashewnuts.
He called for a new outlook on cashew marketing so that it can be made a sellers crop rather than a buyer’s crop.
Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation Managing Director Nagaraj stressed on increasing cashew production in the country and to make India a global leader. He explained the vicious circle of poor cashew production and the need to overcome it.
Directorate of Cashew and Cocoa Development Director Venkatesh N Hubballi urged the trainees to make the best use of the training so that the benefits of advanced cashew production technologies can be taken to stakeholders.
In his presidential address, Director of Directorate of Cashew Research Prof P L Saroj pointed out the present status of cashew research and cashew cultivation in India. The trainees should popularise the right technologies along with the proper recommendations as indicated by scientists so that farmers can reap maximum benefits from cashew cultivation.
The growing demand for cashew at both global and national levels has made it imperative to increase production and productivity of raw cashewnut, besides enhancing production of cashew apple for preparation of value-added products.
To achieve this and to provide better technology backstopping at stakeholder level, it is essential to know the current status of research and development in cashew in the country, he added.
The training will provide special emphasis on the latest concepts, methodologies, approaches and practices in the field of cashew research for the benefit of stakeholders.
50 participants
A total of 50 participants from Development Departments, Cashew and Forest Development Corporations and Horticulture Missions of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and Karnataka are participating in the training.
Three publications, catalogue on minimum descriptors of cashew germplasm, training manual on advances in cashew production technology and e-manual on advances in cashew production technology were also released on the occasion.
