Panaji
The Cashew Fest had a great start, with lots of people coming to check out the 78 stalls set up for the event. These stalls were mandated to feature cashew in at least 75% of their offerings, showing off how versatile this nut can be in different tasty foods.
During his talk, Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude talked about how important it is to save land for farming, saying it’s as valuable as gold because it’s so important for growing cashews. Dr. Deviya Rane said something similar in her speech, talking about how the festival helps keep Goan culture alive and supports local groups, especially ones run by women in rural areas.
She said the festival is a good time to talk about important stuff like making cashew farming better and helping farmers with their problems. They had meetings and workshops to help people work together and come up with new ideas to keep the cashew industry strong and helpful for local communities.
Right now, Goa makes about 25,800 tonnes of raw cashews every year, which helps a lot with the State’s economy. There are about 20 factories that process cashews, providing jobs for over 3,500 people, which is a big deal for the State’s economy.
The Goa Forest Development Corporation (GFDC) has been working hard to make cashew farming and processing better, so it keeps growing and helps the local economy.
Overall, the event is more than just a party about nuts; it’s a way to keep traditions alive, support local culture, and help people in the community, all while making sure Goan cashews keep being important for a long time.
