PM urged to set up taskforce to explore use of cashew apples

The Karnataka Cashew Merchants’ Association has said that it is ready to buy cashew apples, 98 per cent of which go unutilised in the State, from farmers and make proper utilisation through public-private partnership (PPP).

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for optimum utilisation of cashew products, the association has, in a letter to Mr. Modi, suggested that a taskforce be set up for the purpose. The taskforce may comprise members in the industry as well as research institutes to identify viable alternatives on utilising cashew apples, it said.

Association president Bola Rahul Kamath said that many organisations, including the Directorate of Cashew Nut and Coca Development, the Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation, the Directorate of Cashew Research, are engaged in research activities.

Unfortunately, the industry is not made aware of the research results thereby hampering proper utilisation of cashew apples, he said. Goa is the only State that has allowed distillation of cashew apples to produce fenny whereas laws in other States are not favourable to this.

Mr. Kamath said that about 40 lakh tonnes of cashew apple are produced in the country, 98 per cent of which go unutilised. Attempts to make juice out of these apples and produce bio-fuel have not yielded the desirable results. Hence there is a need for a comprehensive approach to the issue.

The move would definitely boost the income of farmers and encourage others to take up cashew cultivation at a time when India is importing about 8 lakh tonnes of raw cashew, Mr. Kamath said. It would also help the cashew industry to expand its base and provide employment to more people, he added.

- The Hindu