Shoma Patnaik
Panaji
With the cashew crop in the state experiencing another year of poor yield during the ongoing season, stakeholders in the cashew processing industry, the All Goa Cashew Growers Association, and farmers have called for the development of a new cashew variety that can withstand climate changes and is pest resistant.
They said that a new Goan variety of the nut is badly needed for the state to endure the erratic weather as well as survive the two dreaded pests – stem and root borer and tree mosquitoes – which afflict every plantation.
“A new variety having genes of traditional Goan cashews must be introduced by the Agriculture Department with support from scientists to boost local production,” said Goa Cashew Manufacturers Association president
Rohit Zantye.
He disclosed that grafts of the cashew varieties developed by ICAR- CCARI, Old Goa, are not available in the market.
“Farmers use grafts of the Vengurla-4 and Vengurla-7 varieties imported from Maharashtra, which are not fully suitable for Goa’s requirements. The unavailability of quality planting material and sustained pest attacks have kept Goan cashew yield stagnant,” pointed out Zantye.
According to farmers, the cashew crop this year has been delayed and in short supply for the upstream processing units. Poor arrivals has led to the market price of raw cashews (quoted by Goa Bagayatdar, Ponda) increasing from Rs 161 per kg at the start of the season to Rs 171 per kg currently.
“In January, the expectations were of a good crop looking at the excellent flowering. However, flowers withered away later due to cool weather between February 25 and March 10. Presently the production is looking much lower as compared to the 2025 season.
From 400-600 bags per day we are not even getting in 200 bags per day,” said cashew farmer Satyavan Dessai from Cuncolim.
All Goa Cashew Growers Association president Madhav Sahakari opined that the cashew crop this year would be 40 per cent lower. Sahakari, who is a farmer-processor, said, “All plantation owners in Ponda taluka are reporting extremely poor harvest.”
As per reports, the cashew yield this season varies between talukas. Growers in Ponda, Pernem, Sanguem and Canacona talukas are facing poor crop, while the harvest have stood good for Sattari and Bicholim farmers.
The production of cashews was stagnant at 24,882 tonnes in 2024-25, and has been declining over the years. The area under cultivation is under threat from growing urbanisation.
