Trends in Area, Production, Yield and Export-Import of Cashew in India- An Economic Analysis

Abstract

Cashew is known as ‘maintenance free’ crop and the recommended package of practices are not followed and this leads to low yield. The study is based on secondary data and analyzed by using standard statistical tools like arithmetic mean and coefficient of variation, compound growth rates and graphical representations to draw the overview of trends in area, production and productivity of cashew in India. Both area and production of cashew has been increasing and finally productivity in the country. Area under cashew nuts in India has increased from 464 thousand hectares in1980-81 to 1062 thousand hectares during 2017-18 (CAGR of 2.33%); production has increased from 185 thousand metric tonnes in 1980-81 to 817 thousand tonnes in 2017-18 (CAGR of 3.97%) and productivity has increased from 399 kg per hectare during 1980-81 to 769 kg per hectare in 2017-18 (CAGR of 1.60%). India’s cashew kernels export decreased from 1,18,540 metric tonnes in 2006-07 to 82,302 metric tonnes in 2016-17.Nearly one third of the total national cashew production is from Maharashtra only (32.93%) and productivity is also highest in Maharashtra state (1378 kg/ha). Growth in both area and production is highest in Maharashtra state indicating immense scope to increase area and production in the state.