Planting cashew nuts in India is a very profitable agribusiness. Here's the complete guide to growing cashew nuts, from seed selection to cultivation, pest control of cashew plants and harvesting. The cashew tree can grow well when grown in deep, well-drained sandy loam soil, although it can also be grown in poor soil. The tropical evergreen cashew plant (Anacardium occidentale), also known as the Kaju plant or Kaju badam tree, generally develops at a height of up to 46 feet, while the dwarf cashew tree grows to 20 feet.
Areas with annual rainfall of 1000 to 2000 mm and temperatures ranging between 20 and 30°C are the best for growing cashew nuts. It is an extremely harmful disease of cashew plantations that affects the plant's production capacity. Propagation through layers of air could be successful despite the fact that cashew tree plantations grown through the process are very vulnerable to drought and, under these conditions, the survival rate is low. He said the yield has gradually increased from 1 kg of raw cashew nuts per tree to 9 kg per tree since then.
The cashew pulp that grows yellow and reddish in color is processed and used to produce fruit drinks and sweets. The cashew seed shell is also used in a variety of applications such as paints, waterproofing, weapon production, and more. Before cashew plants begin to produce yields, farmers can consider growing intercropping within the space of the earth, offering them the opportunity to continue with their incomes without leaving gaps. Vittappa, a farmer from Honnali taluk, Davangere district, said that in 2004 he began planting high-density cashew nuts with a distance of 5 meters x 5 meters on 1.25 hectares of land.
After three years of planting, he harvested about 2 kg of raw cashew nuts per tree, which is equivalent to about 800 kg from one hectare of plantation. With earlier maturity, higher yields and increasing market demand, cashew has been one of the preferred growing options for growers. Deranna Rai is one of three farmers, including a woman, who heeded scientists' suggestions to cultivate very high-density and high-density cashew nuts a few years ago. The success rate of epicotyl grafting is up to 70%; however, a good temperature, a high level of humidity and hygiene are required to avoid fungal diseases in cashew plantations.
In addition to being widely used as nutritional snacks, cashew nuts are used in the preparation of cashew butter and cashew cheese and are in high demand in the food product industries.