<p></p><p>The raw cashew nut (RCN) production in India slipped last fiscal and continued to stay much below the requirement of the industry, while the global demand is growing at over 10 per cent per annum. <br></p> <p>“Cashew markets are growing at 10 per cent and more not only in India but also in the US, Europe and other countries,” Shahal Hassan Musaliar, Chairman, Cashew Export Promotion Council (CEPCI) said at the Council’s Diamond Jubilee function held here recently. To cope up with the global demand, significant efforts are needed to be taken to increase raw cashew nut production to keep the industry self-sufficient, he said. <br></p> <p>Meanwhile, sources at the Cashew and Cocoa Development Directorate under the Union Ministry of Agriculture told BusinessLine that cashew production in the country in 2014-15 slipped to 7,25,420 tons from 7,36,560 tons in 2013-14. <br></p> <p>They attributed the fall in output to “unseasonal rains during the fruit setting period. ”Total area under the crop increased to 10,27,200 hectares last fiscal from 10,07,695 hectares in 2013-14. <br></p> <p>Sasi Varma, Executive Director and Secretary, CEPCI said, “we need to choose the right blend of technology and ensure Indian cashew processing has the best food safety standards.”<br></p><p></p>