PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has sought the help of Cashew Exports Promotion Council of India (CEPC) to increase production of cashew nuts in Goa, which has witnessed a drop in recent time. As a desperate measure the State has also displayed its willingness to bear 80 per cent of the production cost.
“Goa has a cashew production of 650 kilograms per hectare, which is less compared to the national average. We need to take this production to around 1,200-1,400 kilograms per hectare,” Parrikar said, addressing the fifth edition of Kaju India 2017 – the Global Cashew Summit.
Parrikar said the CEPC should help the State government increase the production, which would eventually lead to the rise in exports and added that if required, the State can even collaborate with the Union Ministry for Commerce and Industries for boosting production.
“If you work out plan for improving the production of cashew in Goa, the State government is ready to bear 80 per cent of the cost,” Parrikar said adding that there is also need to increase India’s production from existing 6-7 lakh tons to 14-15 lakh tons.
He pointed out that the State produces 7.80 thousand tones of cashew nuts while the consumption in Goa is 15,000 tones. “The demand in the state is fulfilled with the import from outside the country, which needs to be stopped,” he said.
The chief minister said that the attempts should be made to increase the production and considering the coverage of cashew plantation in the State, all the shortage will be covered up in next ten years.
Referring to the modernization in the cashew processing industry, Parrikar said such a move is resulting in loss of employment for many, mostly women, who were working from home for various units.
He said the increase in production can be one of the solutions to curb increasing unemployment from the labour-intensive cashew industry sector.
“The technology is improving our lives but it is also reducing the employment opportunities,” he said adding that “biggest strength of the country is its youth, but at the same time, it can also be a problem, if there are no employment opportunities available.”
The former union defence minister also assured the gathering to take up their demand for withdrawal of five per cent import duty on cashew with the Minister for Commerce and Industries Suresh Prabhu.
Earlier, the Member of Parliament Kerala N K Premachandran demanded that Central government should immediately withdraw the import duty on raw cashew and efforts were needed to make India an export-oriented cashew industry, rather than import.
He stressed upon the need for setting up National Cashew Board for promotion of maximum cashew plantation in the country. “Cashew cultivation needs to be given uttermost priority to increase its production,” he stated.
Minister for Fisheries, Harbour Engineering and Cashew Industry from Kerala J Mercykutty Amma delivered the key note address.
