Cashew fair to be held in Mangaluru in February : Minister Eshwar Khandre

Mangaluru: Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said that a state-level cashew fair will be organised in Mangaluru in February.

Speaking on Friday after visiting the office of the Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation, he said that cashew is cultivated the most in Dakshina Kannada district in the State and that there is high demand for cashew saplings in the region. Cashew products are in great demand both within the country and abroad. As domestic production does not meet the demand, there is a situation where cashew has to be imported from foreign countries, he said.

To encourage coastal cashew growers, the cashew fair is being organised in Mangaluru. Through this, efforts will be made to bring cashew growers and cashew industry stakeholders together and further expand the cashew market, the Minister said.

He added that the cashew fair will feature product exhibitions, seminars and programmes covering various aspects of the sector.

The department will take steps to ensure that cashew growers receive scientific pricing. All necessary measures, including research, expansion and other initiatives, will be undertaken to further increase production, the Forest Minister said.

Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation Chairperson Mamatha Gatti said that the district produces 40,000 metric tonnes of cashew. There is high demand for cashew products in the district, including from the cashew industry. There is also strong demand for cashew saplings in rural areas. The Corporation will formulate suitable plans to address it in the coming days.