Product diversification of areca nut, cashew nut and oil palm

Abstract

India is endowed by Mother Earth with a wide range of plantation crops, which serve as the source for diversified products of commercial importance. Areca nut (Areca catechu L.), cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale L.) and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) have great potential at international market as foreign exchange earner. India is the largest producer of areca nut in the world. The products of areca nut, viz. fat, alkaloids, tannins and areca husk, have alternate uses with the potential for establishing small-scale industries. Cashew nut is an export-oriented crop grown for its nut. The by-products of cashew, viz. cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), shell cake, testa and cashew apple, are commercially exploitable. CNSL has always been credited with words such as ‘versatile raw material’. Cashew apple is a rich source of vitamin C, organic acids, antioxidants and minerals. The oil palm is recognised as the cheapest edible oil yielding crop. Main applications of palm oil are in edible food industry field, mainly as solid fat for margarine, shortening and cooking oil. Nonedible applications including soaps, oleochemical production and automobile energy sources are substantial and enlarging day by day. The relationship between value addition technologies, farm and agro-food processors may provide leeway to improve profitability.