Export performance of Indian cashew

Abstract

India is the largest producer of cashew nut in the world accounting for 39.47 per cent of world cashew production during 2010. It has the largest area harvested under the raw cashew nuts in the world. The area of cashew had registered a growth rate of 2.46 per cent per annum, while the production increased by 4.51 per cent per annum. The yield recorded a compound growth rate of 1.79 per cent per annum during the study period (1978-79 to 2011-12). These growth rates were statistically significant at one per cent level of probability. The variation in area, production, and productivity of cashew was observed at 3.84 per cent, 6.29 per cent and 8.09 per cent, respectively. Results on variability in export revealed that in quantity terms it was 7.64 per cent, in value terms it was 12.23 per cent and in terms of unit value it worked out to be 14.23 per cent, which is the highest. Introduction of new High Yielding Varieties of cashew can improve the production and export of cashew kernel. It would be better to concentrate on exporting more of value added products to realize higher profit and it ensures a better price to producer by increasing competition in domestic market.