Call of the cashew: Priest sows new graft technique, bears fruit

BHIRONDA: Almost five hundred years ago, Portuguese missionaries were instrumental in introducing new plant species to Goa, including the cashew or caju (Anacardiun occidentale).

Cashew seeds and plants were brought from Brazil and grown in Goa, and extensive plantations are seen to date on many a hill and highland of the state.

Centuries on, in Bhironda of Sattari taluka, on the right bank of the river Mhadei, yet another missionary-Fr Inacio Almeida of the Society of Pilar-is propagating a new technique of grafting cashew.

"Cashew, as fruit and seed, is a source of livelihood for several economically-weak families in the Western Ghats areas of Goa. This is why we have evolved a technique to spread cashew crop through grafting," says Almeida.

He adds that the mission has been successful as almost all trees planted via the new technique at the Jogati Nature Farm in Bhironda have borne fruit within a year.

In Goa, most horticulturists prefer to grow cashew saplings brought from Vengurla in Maharashtra, because these give a good yield, says Almeida.

The priest, who "loves his land from the bottom of my heart", therefore thought of spreading only indigenous cashew trees through the new technique.

"At the farm we have planted 100 saplings of the local graft and our target is another 200," Almeida says.

Sulakshana Gaonkar of Bhironda village who works at the farm says the plants she has grown via the new technique have borne fruit too.

A workshop on the new technique of cashew grafting is scheduled for April 14 and 15 at Jogati Nature Farm, Bhironda. Those interested may call 9420820726 for details.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Call-of-the-cashew-Priest-sows-new-graft-technique-bears-fruit/articleshow/12643660.cms