With food safety becoming a major concern of consumers worldwide and farm to fork traceability, need of the day, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development Authority (APEDA)  is in the process of developing a national traceability system for export consignments of cashew nuts. 

TraceNet is an internet based electronic service offered by APEDA to the stakeholders for facilitating process certification for export of organic products from India which comply with the NPOP or NOP standards.

TraceNet collects, stores and reports - forward and backward traces and quality assurance data entered by the operators / producer groups and certification bodies within the organic supply chain in India, explained an official from the APEDA , an organisation under the Union Ministry of Commerce.

The move to put cashew nuts on a traceability system follows increasing demand for the cashew nuts in the global market.

The proposed Cashew nut tracker will be on the line of the GrapeNet, the first-ever fresh grapes exported to the European Union.

The success of GrapeNet had encouraged APEDA to launch a similar traceability system for pomegranates (AnarNet), peanuts and some organic products too.

“In the future, APEDA may intervene in the automation of the cashew industry.

Training of professionals, registration of cashew processing units, and a traceability system will be formulated for cashew, replicating peanuts.

“APEDA will disseminate cashew-related information to stakeholders. APEDA is dedicated to continually exploring innovative methods, leveraging technology, and strengthening trade relations to ensure that Indian cashew products reach every corner of the world,” said the official.

After Côte d’Ivoire, India is the second largest producer and exporter of Cashew Nuts with a share of more than 15 per cent, followed by Vietnam in the world’s cashew export. Netherlands, Japan, and Saudi Arabia are the major importers of cashew nuts from India. Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are the major cashew producing states in India.

India primarily exports Cashew Kernels with small quantities of Cashew Nut Shell Liquid and Cardanol, according to the official.

During 2021-22, the cashew exports by value grew from US$ 420 million in 2020-21 to US$ 452 million in 2021-22, witnessing a growth of 7 per cent.

APEDA is working towards exploring new markets for cashew in the international markets of Japan, Saudi Arabia, UK, Spain, Kuwait, Qatar, USA and European countries, etc, the official added.