India’s Cashew Production:
- Annual Production: Over 0.8 million tons (MT) of cashews.
- Cultivated Area: Approximately 0.7 million hectares of land dedicated to cashew cultivation.
- Key Sources: India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), 2024.
Economic Impact:
- Foreign Exchange Value: The yearly foreign exchange earnings from cashew exports are around USD 0.47 billion, as per the Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development, Kochi.
- Employment: About 1.5 million (15 lakh) people are employed in the agricultural and processing sectors related to cashew production.
Geographical Distribution of Cashew Cultivation:
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- East Coast: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal
- West Coast: Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra
Other Regions: Cashew is also cultivated in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, northeastern states (Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland), and Chhattisgarh.
According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), 2023, the largest cashew-producing states are:
- Maharashtra
- Andhra Pradesh
- Odisha
- Karnataka
- Tamil Nadu
India’s Dominance in the Global Cashew Market
India has firmly established itself as the world’s leading exporter of cashew nuts, commanding over 15% of the global export market. The country’s primary export consists of cashew kernels, while cashewnut shell liquid is exported in relatively smaller quantities.
Recent Export Trends
Despite a slight decline of 2.89% in export value between April 2023 and January 2024 compared to the previous year, India’s cashew exports have remained substantial. However, the volume of exports has fluctuated, increasing from 2020-21 to 2021-22 but then decreasing in 2022-23.
Raw Cashew Nut Imports and Domestic Production
The growth of India’s cashew industry is significantly attributed to the importation of raw cashew nuts, which meet nearly half of the domestic and export demand for cashew kernels. To bolster domestic production and reduce dependence on imports, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) has implemented several initiatives.
The DAC&FW has also approved a roadmap to expand cashew cultivation area by 1.20 lakh hectares, underscoring the government’s commitment to strengthening the domestic cashew industry.