Agriculture Department has termed it the worst year for cashew production in the State. Farmers with decades of experience concur with this, stating that never has the cashew crop dropped this drastically. Agriculture Department has received requests from farmers for compensation. A drop in the cashew crop affect not just the cashew nut industry, but also the feni distillation. At the start of the current cashew season, United Tribals Associations Alliance had sought an increase in the procurement/support price of cashew kernel for farmers from the current Rs 125 per kg. The support price had been fixed two years ago, raised from Rs 105 a kg though farmers had been hoping for a figure in the range between Rs 140 and Rs 150.
This is the third year that the cashew production season in the State has got disrupted. The imposition of the lockdown in March 2020 upset the cashew harvest leading to much of the fruit rotting and in the process affecting the distillation of feni and urrack, as by the time the restrictions on movements were lifted, much of the season had ended. Last year there was a delay in starting the season as the first flush of cashew flowering was not optimum which meant that the cashew farmers had to wait for the second flush to ripen. Much like this year, the unseasonal showers had played truant with the harvest in 2021. A repeat is a cause of concern as it can lead to a pattern, with climate change effects on agriculture and horticulture production.
The Goa cashew farmer also faces competition from cashew nuts that can be procured for cheaper rates from Africa. United Tribals Associations Alliance had also alleged that the cashew kernel from African countries is imported and sold in the State as Goan cashew nuts. The Goa cashew nut is a recognised brand and imported nuts should not be passed off as those from Goa as this affects the brand value. To the wholesalers and retailers it may make economic sense to buy cheaper nuts and sell at a higher profit, but it will dent the Goa brand and is also an injustice to the local cashew growers. The government has to make it mandatory that the origin of the cashew nuts is printed on the packages, so buyers are aware what they are paying for.
Changing weather patterns affecting production, low support price for the kernel are just two of the issues that cashew farmers face. The dwindling availability of land, the high wages to the labourers combine with the other factors to make cashew production are far from profitable venture, despite the market price of the processed cashew nut being high. None of these issues are being raised for the first time, they have been discussed before. Some correction in the economics of cashew farming – the minimum support price being one – is required to make it financially viable. There are many farmers traditionally involved in the cashew business, their livelihoods have to be safeguarded.
