TN switching to organic cashew cultivation
Organic cashew cultivation is still in its infancy. But it is fast catching up in parts of south India due to the 20% to 25% price advantage over conventional method of growing the cash crop.
By TNN |
CHENNAI: Organic cashew cultivation is still in its infancy. But it is fast catching up in parts of south India due to the 20% to 25% price advantage over conventional method of growing the cash crop. The demand in the US, European Union and Japan, is also expediting the process of switching over to organic cashew cultivation.
Fuelled by the need for pesticide-free products, the demand in these countries far outstrips the supply with certified organic products commanding a premium price of 25% to 30% more than the normal yield.
So far, India's success may have been restricted to a few areas but a programme under the Export Promotion of Organic Products from Africa shows benefits reaching about 26,000 farmers in Uganda and Tanzania.
"Clearly, the Indian farmers are capable of taking advantage of the organic export market opportunity. The agri-export zone (AEZ) project will address the key issues that will enable an organic revolution to take root in cashew farming," official sources told ET.
Tamil Nadu alone has the potential to do 10,000 ha of organic cashew plantation annually for the next decade. "This target can be met if waste land, TN Forest Plantation Corporation land, agriculturally suitable land that was earlier held by the State Seed Farm and TN Co-operative Oil Seed Federation, are identified and used. The state has a wasteland scheme to develop horticultural and cash crops," according to a TIDCO market feasibility study.
Sources also said the TN Forest Plantation Corporation is proposing to develop 10,000 ha of cashew in Chengam district and representations are being made to arrange for a tie-up between the AEZ and the TN Forest Plantation to grow cashew with organic certification.
Globally, of the 700 tonne organic cashew trade, Brazil supplies 500 tonne with India contributing the rest. Goa and parts of Kerala have been producing organic cashew with success, the study further said.
With most cashew producing countries, gearing up to implement a programme for organic cashew cultivation, large-scale agri-export zones are likely to play a key role in it, the sources said.
Chennai-based Sattva Agro Expo, which is in the process of establishing a cashew AEZ in and around Panruti district along with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation, is moving over to organic cashew cultivation. It offers a price advantage of 20% to 25% over conventional cashew cultivation, Sattva Agro Expo director S Govindhan told ET on Monday.
Sattva Agro has approached 100 farmers to adopt the cluster approach, for cultivating organic cashew. The Cuddalore Collectorate would conduct a survey, along with the Horticulture Department, and the results are awaited within a fortnight, he said.
"By the third year, we would have 3,200 ha under organic cashew cultivation as it takes that much time to get certified. The procurement is expected to touch 2,750 tonne by then, with a 10% to 12% margin benefit to be passed on to farmers," he added.
Fuelled by the need for pesticide-free products, the demand in these countries far outstrips the supply with certified organic products commanding a premium price of 25% to 30% more than the normal yield.
So far, India's success may have been restricted to a few areas but a programme under the Export Promotion of Organic Products from Africa shows benefits reaching about 26,000 farmers in Uganda and Tanzania.
"Clearly, the Indian farmers are capable of taking advantage of the organic export market opportunity. The agri-export zone (AEZ) project will address the key issues that will enable an organic revolution to take root in cashew farming," official sources told ET.
Tamil Nadu alone has the potential to do 10,000 ha of organic cashew plantation annually for the next decade. "This target can be met if waste land, TN Forest Plantation Corporation land, agriculturally suitable land that was earlier held by the State Seed Farm and TN Co-operative Oil Seed Federation, are identified and used. The state has a wasteland scheme to develop horticultural and cash crops," according to a TIDCO market feasibility study.
Sources also said the TN Forest Plantation Corporation is proposing to develop 10,000 ha of cashew in Chengam district and representations are being made to arrange for a tie-up between the AEZ and the TN Forest Plantation to grow cashew with organic certification.
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Globally, of the 700 tonne organic cashew trade, Brazil supplies 500 tonne with India contributing the rest. Goa and parts of Kerala have been producing organic cashew with success, the study further said.
With most cashew producing countries, gearing up to implement a programme for organic cashew cultivation, large-scale agri-export zones are likely to play a key role in it, the sources said.
Chennai-based Sattva Agro Expo, which is in the process of establishing a cashew AEZ in and around Panruti district along with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation, is moving over to organic cashew cultivation. It offers a price advantage of 20% to 25% over conventional cashew cultivation, Sattva Agro Expo director S Govindhan told ET on Monday.
Sattva Agro has approached 100 farmers to adopt the cluster approach, for cultivating organic cashew. The Cuddalore Collectorate would conduct a survey, along with the Horticulture Department, and the results are awaited within a fortnight, he said.
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"By the third year, we would have 3,200 ha under organic cashew cultivation as it takes that much time to get certified. The procurement is expected to touch 2,750 tonne by then, with a 10% to 12% margin benefit to be passed on to farmers," he added.
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