PANAJI
Nearly 20 per cent of the total 6000 ha of area under cashew plantation, would be taken up for rejuvenation, over a period of five years, in a bid to increase the production. The Goa Forest Development Corporation (GFDC) will spend over Rs 31 crore to boost the cashew yield.
The GFDC has introduced a scheme called ‘Financial Assistance for Rejuvenation of Cashew Plantation (Year 2024-25 to 2032-33); with Rs 1.50 crore budgetary provision made in the current fiscal.
Under the scheme, the Corporation has proposed to take up 1240 ha for the area of rejuvenation of cashew plantation by replanting good quality cashew seedlings with maintenance over a period of five years.
As per the proposal, in the current year 2024-25, the Corporation intends to take up 120 ha for rejuvenation cashew plantation and 280 h. for subsequent year from 2025- 26 to 2028-29 by engaging local labourers.
The process will include rejuvenating the old cashew plantation by replacing old senile, moribund non yielding cashew trees with high yielding variety of cashew for higher productivity and yield to maximize profits.
“The successful implementation of this proposed scheme with adoption of scientific production technology will ensure the raw nut yield of 1 to 1.5 tonnes per hectare from 5th year, thereby proportional monetary returns, besides this, cashew apple average yield of 5 to 6 tonnes per ha will bring an additional income from the plantations,” the Corporation said in the notification issued adding that most of the cashew processing industries such as nut processing, fenni making, nut shell liquid etc depends on GFDC estates for their raw material.
According to the GFDC, of the 1,224 sq kms of Goa’s forest area approximately 6000 ha under cashew plantations is readily available to take up under improvement works. These plantations were handed over by the Forest Department to the Corporation after its formation in April 1997 on lease for a period of 40 years.
“The plantations were maintained well till mid 80s but thereafter proper management was not carried out as a result these plantations have been infested with heavy weed, climbers, parasites etc. Most of the plantations are now covered with thorny bushes, creepers and useless undergrowth with hardly 20 to 30 trees per ha, which too are struggling hard from the stranglehold of the weeds & thorny bamboos to survive & produce fruit and nuts,” it said.
