Welcome to KSACC

Cashew industry in our country is facing a stiff competition from countries like Vietnam, Brazil, Mozambique and Tansania. India stands 2nd in the export of cashew kernels in the world. Kerala state stood 1st in the extent of area under cashew during 1970s. But with the expansion of area under rubber, major area under cashew of the state were converted to rubber plantation. At present Kerala stands 6th position in area and 5th position in production among other states viz Maharashtra, Andra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Kerala’s contribution to Indian cashew industry is remarkable in the processing and exporting sectors. There are about 800 registered cashew nut processing units in Kerala employing 3 lakhs workers, of which 95% are women. The main crisis facing the cashew industry in Kerala is the diminishing trend in the domestic production of cashew nuts which in turn is due to the large short fall in the area under cashew cultivation and also the low productivity of the traditional crop. A quantity of 6 lakh MT RCN is required for the smooth functioning of cashew industry in Kerala. But our current domestic production is only 83000 MT. This huge gap could be bridged by expanding the area of cashew cultivation intensively. Government of Kerala to overcome this above crisis constituted KSACC in the year 2007 vide G.O(MS) 55/2007/ID. The mandate of KSACC is to expand the area under cashew cultivation in the state and simultaneously achieve better production through vertical expansion by increasing the productivity through cultivation of High Yielding Varieties (HYV) of cashew. The vision of the Agency is to increase the domestic annual rawnut production from 83000 MT to 6 lakh MT in a phased manner through promotion of cultivation of High Yielding Varieties cashew grafted plants among farmers and other public with the support of Agricultural Department and LSGD and thereby ensure a steady supply of raw nuts for the industry.

KSACC has distributed 8964040 nos. grafts from 2009-2021 and covered an area of 43489 Ha. Currently 24661 Ha are exists in the field after causalities due to climate change, drought, flood, land slide disasters and attack of pest and diseases. A quantity of 43021 MT cashew nut produced by farmers has been share to the production sector during 2021-22.

During 2022-23 about 880000 nos. high yielding variety grafts developed by KAU and ICAR will be distributed under the schemes Cashew Model Garden, Cashew Model Farm and Muttathoru Kasumavu. Apart from this a new cultivation technology viz, Ultra High density planting developed by DCR Puttur and CRS Madakkathara is being introduced by KSACC in the field as a trial in an area of 10 Ha.

Further KSACC focusing on the formation of Farmer Producer Organisation to expand, popularize the HYV crop and getting better price for the nut by following the slogan ‘Unity is great strength’ for every successes.

Sri. Shirish K., Special Officer (Cashew) is the Chairman of the Agency appointed by the State Government and Governing Body comprising of 15 members including the representatives of leading political parties and Officials representing different Departments and PSUs as its members.

Current Schemes

Establishment of New Garden
(Normal Density Planting)

Under the programme cashew grafts are distributed to farmers as free of cost @ 200 plants per Hectare. Planting should be done at a spacing of 7mx7m. Subsidy will be given to farmers having a minimum of one acre land. Subsidy will be given in 3 yearly installments 60:20:20 including the cost of grafts in accordance with the availability of fund. The first installment will be paid after planting and verification. The second one after one year of planting after ensuring minimum of 75% of survival and the 3nd one in the 3rd year after ensuring 90% stocking of plants. The casualty replacement has to be carried out by the farmers/institution of their own cost. A minimum of one acre is needed for financial assistance.

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Cashew Plantation

This programme is intended to plant a minimum of 5 acres of land and more @ 200 plants per hectare with a spacing of 7mx7m. Grafts will be supplied on free of cost. Subsidy will be given in 3 yearly installments 60:20:20 including the cost of grafts in accordance with the availability of fund. The first installment will be paid after planting and verification. The second one after one year of planting after ensuring minimum of 75% of survival and the 3nd one in the 3rd year after ensuring 90% stocking of plants. The casualty replacement has to be carried out by the farmers/institution of their own cost.

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Muttathoru Kasumavu

Inorder to promote cashew cultivation among public, Agency proposes to distributed cashew grafts through Kudumbasree/MGNREGS/ School/ College students/residence /public etc on free of cost.

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High Density Planting

A new technique developed by Kerala Agriculture University, considering the shortage of area under cashew. By this method the plant population can be increased in the unit of area by reducing the plant space with a view to increase the production and productivity in 3rd year onwards. Under the programme planting recommended at a spacing of 5mx5m with a plant population 400 plants per hectare and grafts will be supplied on free of cost. A minimum area of cultivation one acre plane area is considered under the scheme for claiming subsidy. Subsidy will be given in 3 yearly installment 60:20:20 including the cost of graft on condition that 75% survival in the 2nd year and 90% of the plants existed in the 2nd year should survive in the 3r year. The casualty replacement has to be carried out by the farmers/institution of their own cost. A minimum of one acre is needed for financial assistance.

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Ultra High Density Planting

An innovative method of cashew planting developed by ICAR Puttur and CRS Madakkathara (KAU). This scheme intends to adopt Ultra High Density Planting techniques in the field of selective farmers holding a minimum of 1 acre of land with drip irrigation and fertigation facilities. KSACC would provide required grafts 1100/Ha at a spacing of 3mx3m along with technical know-how. The cost involved for the supply of 1100/Ha and other expenses amount to Rs.66000/- will be met by KSACC. The other expenses required for the establishment of the unit would be borne by the farmers themselves. A successful establishment of the unit will provide 1 tone of cashew nuts in every year.

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6916161
Grafts Distributed
20252
Happy Farmers
26706
Tons of Cashew Produced
20747
Area in Hectares