PANAJI
Climate change is emerging as a serious threat to cashew flowering in the State for the last three years, recording annual drop in production.
Rise in temperature, erratic rainfall and absence of adequate cold climate has taken a toll on the fruit-setting process as farmers’ witness an average of 50 per cent drop in the flowering for the current season so far.
The year 2022-23 reported 25,800 metric tonnes of cashew production, whereas 26,000 metric tonnes of production was reported in 2021-22.
The average yield in kilograms per hectare has also declined from 458kgs per ha to 453 kgs per ha in those two years. The final data of the current season 2023-24, will be available only by May end.
Speaking to The Goan, Director Agriculture Nevil Alphonso said that erratic climate, reported in the last three years, has led to annual drop in cashew production. “This year too, on an average there is a 50 per cent drop in flowering. In some areas, the drop is above 60 per cent,” he said.
Alphonso said that the absence of adequate cold spells during the winter months of December and January, coupled with erratic rains in November, have disrupted the natural cycle of flowering. “Normally, after the monsoon season, cashew and mango trees need a four-month dry season for flowering. And in the last three years, we have seen rains in October and November,” he said.
“The early morning mist or dew reported currently may further damage the flowering of the crops,” the Director said.
“Hence, as of now, we are not expecting a bumper crop, though some trees are still in the flowering phase,” he said, adding ‘last season, after an initial huge drop, the production reported slight rise by month of May’.
Explaining in detail, Alphonso said that the flowering process is ridden with troubles owing to early morning dew affecting the process of pollination. “The absence of conducive conditions for pollination has heightened the vulnerability of fruit flowers to pests,” he said.
According to the Shetkari Aadhaar Nidhi Scheme, the government provides a compensation of Rs 40,000 per hectare at the maximum. It depends on the type of crop too.
