High density cashew cultivation potential appreciated

Mangalore Today News Network

Bettampady, June 21, 2014: Farmers, Sathyabhama from Manchi in Bantwal, Deranna Rai from Bettampady in Puttur and Vittappa from Bidarhalli in Davengere stood testimony for the vast untapped potential of cashew, which was once hailed as the ‘poor man’s crop.’

They were felicitated for being pioneers in adopting high density planting in cashew cultivation in Karnataka at the foundation day celebration of Directorate of Cashew Research, (DCR) Puttur June 18.

Sathyabhama has achieved the highest productivity of 2,750 kg/ha of cashew apple in third year through adoption of ultra high density and high density modes of planting. She has also made innovative products out of cashew apple, the major one being a cashew apple halwa with a longer shelf life. Sharing her experience, Sathyabhama said that she always keeps wondering why such a tasty fruit like cashew apple is wasted. ‘Cashew will replace rubber’

Deranna Rai, by adopting ultra high density planting got a yield to the tune of 2000 kg/ha in the third year. “I was taken aback by the high returns from cashew trees planted in an acre and now regrets planting rubber saplings in four acres,” a beaming Rai admitted. He is sure that the day cashew replacing rubber and areca is not too far.

An engineer by profession, Vittappa uses to come all the way from Davengere to Ullal to buy cashew saplings. He got ayield of 3600 kg/ha in the 10th year from his high density orchard of variety Ullal-1.

The scientists at DCR favour high density planting of cashew saplings over traditional methods. In this method, plants are grown in close proximity of five metre distance. As the plants are raised as dwarfs, easy harvesting and an increased yield is ensured.

Speaking on the occasion, which also was a meet of farmers’, Deputy Commissioner A B  Ibrahim stressed on the need for improving status of cashew cultivation, better income from cashew farming and called for focus on future avenues for cashew apple utilization. He appreciated the adoption of latest technologies by innovative farmers. The DC promised that issues raised by cashew farmers such as marketing problem, low subsidy amount etc will be taken up with the department of Horticulture.

‘No govt support’ : Scientists from DCR told the DC that forest rules comes in the way of growers who intend to chop down old trees. DCR Director P L Saroj pointed that the lease period of cashew plantation area has ended. “The government gives subsidy to plant 80 saplings in an acre whereas 440 saplings can be planted in the land,” he said and added that the demand for cashew is more than its production. “Unfortunately cashew cultivation was not supported by government since many years. It does not find a place on the list of horticulture crops also,” Saroj rued. Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture (Lucknow) former Director Prof R KPathak exhorted the farmers to make the full use of various organic farming systems and techniques to produce quality food products in an environmentally sustainable manner.  CPCRI (Kasargod) Director Dr George V Thomas, Principal Scientist at DCR Dr M G Nayak also spoke.