Boosted by sweetening taste of cashew production in the State, known for its vast wastelands on which virtually no farming is possible, Jharkhand State Horticulture Mission (JSHM) is all set to organise ‘Kaju India-2013’. The national level conference would discuss the strategies for development of cashew in non-traditional States for two days starting from November 20.
Informing about the conference Mission Director of JSHM Prabhakar Singh said that it would bring together experts from all over the country to share their experiences and knowledge with cashew growers from the State. “We have taken land under cashew farming from 3000 hectares in 2008-09 to 16000 hectares now. We eye to take it to 100,000 hectares by 2020 and for that we need some crucial knowledge and views about the cultivation. The conference would pave the way in making Jharkhand among top cashew growing States,” he said.
About 250 experts and representatives that include Venkatesh N Hubbali of Cashew and Cocoa Development Directorate, Kochin, senior scientist D Balasubramanium and several others from the field of horticulture would participate in the conference.
The State has produced about 270 MT of cashew during 2012-13 from 10 districts namely East and West Singhbhum, Saraikela-Kharsawan, Khunti, Simdega, Deoghar, Pakur, Jamtara, Godda and Dumka. In most of the districts the cultivators, mostly belonging to tribal communities, have brought fallow or barren land under production. “Cashew cultivation besides bringing wasteland into production cycle has also checked soil erosion and out migration of tribal people. As far as Mission is concerned we see unlimited opportunity in this State,” said Singh.
Though, he also underlined challenges the segment is living with. It has three cashew processing plants at Behragora while two more are proposed in the area. Scope for organic cashew is yet to be explored that would add great value to the produce. The JSHM has also set up a nursery to supply high yielding variety of saplings for improved production. “Improved variety of cashew plant is required in the State to get 8-10 kg of production per plant and we are also planning to have another nursery. We also have great scope for fenny production but for that the cultivating area has to be expanded many times. The conference would help us immensely in chalking out strategies in the way of putting Jharkhand among top in the coauntry,” said the Director.