The Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) has urged the Union Government to allocate sufficient funds and put forward necessary schemes to increase the production as also productivity in the country.

The raw cashewnut requirement of the cashew processing industry is estimated at about 15 lakh tonnes a year and the availability from internal sources is less than half of this. The balance is met by imports and as such, it is important to make the country self-sufficient in the matter of raw cashew, Mr T.K.Shahal H.Musaliar, Chairman, CEPCI, said.

According to the estimate of the Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development, production of raw cashew nuts in India during 2010-11 was 6,53,000 tonnes against 6,13,000 tonnes during 2009-10, reflecting a nominal increase, he said addressing the 56th annual general meeting of the Council.

The Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development under the Ministry of Agriculture is taking some steps in this direction by implementing schemes for production development, he added.

Considering the country's stake in the international cashew trade, the Chairman urged the Union Government to participate in the Global Cashew Task Force, as this would in turn help in ensuring the country's leadership in the world market.

The CEPCI in association with INC (International Nut and Dried Fruit Foundation), Spain and other world cashew players such as VINACAS (Vietnam), SINDICAJU (Brazil), ACA (representing 11 African countries) and other minor players has signed an agreement forming a Global Cashew Task Force for the benefit of the world cashew industry.

Key activities

The Global Task Force is expected to put thrust on three key activities/aspects such as Research on Nutrition and Health Claims, International Food Safety Norms and Promotion of cashews. He also requested the Government to extent the necessary finance in this regard.

Referring to the export performance of the industry, he said that the foreign exchange earned by the country through exports of cashew kernels, cashewnut shell liquid and allied products during 2010-11 was Rs 2,930 crore. However, the global economic recession continued to affect cashew kernel exports adversely. There was 1.28 per cent decrease in the quantity of cashew kernels exported during 2010-11 compared to that of 2009-10.

Referring to export incentives, he requested the Government to continue the VKGUY and DEPB schemes as otherwise; the cashew exporters will find it difficult to survive in the international markets withstanding competition from Vietnam, Brazil etc.

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