MIGUEL BRAGANZA
The smell of cashew blossoms and cashew apples, either ripening on the trees or mildly fermenting on the ground has been filling the air with its aroma on the village roads
and hillsides.
Originating in Brazil and scientifically named as Anacardium occidentale, cashew is close to our heart. The popular Vengurla-4 cashew is a red apple selection with bold nuts and a good yield made at the Regional Fruit Research Station of DBSKKV-Dapoli located at the coastal town of Vengurla in Sindhudurg district adjoining Goa. Its fruit is ready for harvest from end of January to March. The first urrak in February is from this early maturing variety. The ICAR-CCARI at Old Goa has released Goa-1, 2, 3 and 4 selections for specific uses.
Botanically speaking, the cashew ‘apple’ may not be a fruit but it is the spirit that matters to a Goan. The swollen hypothalamus is actually the fruit stalk and the nut is the fruit. The nuts are separated from the cashew apples, which are then juiced and fermented with native yeasts before distillation of the spirits. The traditional Lavnni is the best method till date. It is the best practice in the trade for urrak and feni. The first Geographical Indication or G.I. in favour of Goa was for the feni in 2009.
While there seems to be some confusion about the G.I. status for the Goan cashew nuts, the Mavalankar roasted cashew nuts of the M-1 variety are the gold standard for Goan cashew nuts. Rajaram Mavalankar has identified a good bearing, large nut selection and multiplied it by grafting. He has named it as M-1 or Mavalankar-1 variety. However, until now he had not bothered to register it because it would mean sharing the germplasm with the ICAR-CCARI at Old Goa. But after keeping it exclusively for his own cashew plantation, he has now started producing grafts for sale. This is good news for farmers who want to invest in this premium variety. He will also need to register it to prevent unauthorised sale of his IPR material.
On the weekend after Easter, everyone will be able to immerse themselves in the world of cashews at the Goa Forest Development Corporation’s third annual Cashew Festival in Panaji. One will also be able to taste the products of the cashew apple and hopefully eat authentic Goan cashew nuts.
