THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
The new crop of cashew that begins to hit the market usually in March, is not witnessed this year, due to multiple reasons. This year the crop has been less than normal, and the rates also have been very low, lament cashew producing farmers. Goa is known for its traditional crop of cashews and farmers from Canacona to Sattari are involved in producing it on a large scale. But the prolonged rains and continued cold climate during the night has affected the crop this year, state agriculture experts.
While speaking to The Goan, Ashok Joshi, cashew producer from Valpoi-Sattari explains that the fog has impacted the cashew and mango bloom. Both of these traditional crops in Goa would have had a bumper yield, but the prolonged rains and fog has proved detrimental in the appropriate growth of the fruit, and hence the cashew and also to some extent, mango producers will face crises this season.
“Due to the fog, the bloom got burnt and has fallen to the ground. The local, old cashew trees have not bloomed properly as winter began late. The hybrid variety of cashew bloomed well even in the adverse weather, but the continued fog caused harm to the crop,” pointed out Joshi.
Cashew crop needs heat at the time of seed formation and its maturation process. But the cold weather made it impossible this year. There is heat during the day, but still the climate is humid, which is not favourable for the crop, he states.
The international market has brought down the local rates of cashews, said Joshi, pointing out that Goan cashew has a typical flavour as the seed is well matured here.
Feni producers allow the cashew apple to ripen and fall naturally on the ground, to get the flavour and this also helps the seed to mature and taste better. The Sattari cashew is known for its taste. However, this season, the reduced production of cashew crop and the lower rates in the wholesale market have dampened the spirits of the Goan farmers, says Joshi.
The farmer further highlights that unless the rate is maintained at Rs 170 per kilo, the producers will have to bear losses, because the expenses are not met if the rate is lower than this. If the rates are as low as Rs 120-130 per kilo, the infrastructural cost will not be met.
Cashew is a general crop in Goa, and if it does not bring income, the farmers will be in losses. The wild animals also create nuisance and destroy the cashew crop. The monkeys and peacocks cause nuisance to hybrid cashew crops as they do not allow the fruit to grow or ripen. If the government of Goa does not look at these situations, the farmers will be in a state of dilemma. The traditional farmers are always in a state of insecurity and the younger generation is not keen on entering this vocation due to the continuous insecurity that the farmer community is facing in the State.
If the crops give a fixed income to the farmers, then farming becomes viable. The spraying of fertilisers will be waste, if the bloom falls off due to fog. And as some of the plantations are in the hilly areas, it is difficult to take water to that height and do the spraying or watering. The changing climate conditions, wild animals and excessive weed costs are detrimental to farming.
"We weed on a regular basis, but this year the prolonged rains added to our expense of removing the weeds more than once. The weed growth is tremendous and if not removed completely, the seeds are flown to nearby fields and new weeds grow there. This year the percentage of death of cashew trees has increased too.
“The tea mosquito bug that has affected the leaves and crop, has increased our expenses of pesticides. The fog has created a conducive atmosphere for this bug to grow. Even if we spend money on the spraying, we have no guarantee that the crop will be saved, as there are other factors like monkeys and peacocks to destroy the crop. Overall, this season will be very difficult for the cashew producers in Goa,” concludes Joshi.
Increase wholesale cashew rate, say farmers
PANAJI: This year’s wholesale cashew rate is Rs 121 per kilo, which is too low according to the farmers.
“Last year the rate was more than Rs 130 per kilo, so in the event of a reduced cashew crop, the government should increase the rate for the factory owners and the farmers,” said a cashew producer from Valpoi-Sattari.
