The Goa government should prioritize preserving traditional cashew plantations and promoting authentic urrak and feni production, Instead of spending crores on festivals, funds should be allocated towards supporting local cashew farmers, protecting the environment from mega projects, and ensuring the availability of high-quality, traditionally produced urrak and feni for consumers. Today, we are unsure if we get authentic feni and urrak or if it is made of flavour enhancing ingredients. If our government is unable to protect our cashew plantations, hills and landscape of Goa, then what is the purpose of organising cashew festival? Taxpayer money should be used transparently and with accountability for the benefit of the local community and to preserve Goa's cultural heritage. Just organising cashew festival for the sake of organising it is a complete hollow celebration.
