Efforts on to cultivate cashew in Kolar district

MANGALORE, FEB. 10:

There is a need for farmers to expand cashew cultivation in non-traditional areas in Karnataka, according to Mr Sampath Samrajya, Member of the Board of Management of University of Horticulture Science, Bagalkot. Inaugurating the cashew field day at the horticulture research station of the university in Mangalore on Friday, he said that there is good potential for cultivating cashew in the State.

The industry is importing raw cashews from African countries to meet its requirements. In such a situation, farmers in non-traditional areas also should look at cultivating it.

FOLLOW PRACTICES

In this regard, efforts have been made in a non-traditional district such as Kolar for cashew cultivation.

He said that the farmers in the non-traditional areas should also follow the correct practices of cultivation after planting them. This is missing in most of the cases.

IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY

Stressing the need for improving productivity from cashew plantations in Karnataka, he said the productivity is 1,200 kg a hectare in Maharashtra. However, it is only 500 kg a hectare in Karnataka. Farmers should give due attention for improving the productivity in their plantations, he said.

Mr Samrajya asked the farmers to look into multi-crop cultivation.

MULTI CROPS

Dependence on a single crop may not help, especially during the price crash of commodities.

Focus on multi crops on the land available will help distribute the risk in crop failures, he said.

Highlighting the role of horticulture research station at Ullal in Mangalore, he said the six-decade-old station has contributed for the expansion of cashew cultivation in a big way. It has supplied over 13 lakh saplings to farmers in the past six decades, he said.

Dr M.B. Madalageri, Director of University of Horticulture Science, Bagalkot, presided over the inaugural function.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/article2879983.ece