Experts have stressed the need for adopting new cultivation technologies to improve productivity in cashew plantations.
Speaking at a training programme on ‘nursery management and production technology in cashew’ at Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR) at Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district on Monday, Venkatesh N Hubballi, Director of the Kochi-based Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development (DCCD), said the cashew growers should take suggestions from scientists for adopting new technologies in cashew production to increase productivity.
Highlighting the achievements of DCCD in cashew area expansion in different states, he said many farmers in Kerala and Maharashtra are taking up cashew cultivation now.
MG Nayak, Director of DCR, said the high-density planting and ultra-high density planting in cashew plantations, and plant protection measures are essential for increasing the productivity.
He urged the farmers to come forward to form a cooperative society for cashew on the lines of Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative Ltd to get stable prices for raw cashew nuts.
The inaugural programme was followed by presentation on softwood grafting technique and nursery management in cashew by Nayak. A press release said here that more than 100 cashew growers attended the programme.