<p></p><p>Karnataka Cashew Manufacturers Association secretary M. Tukaram Prabhu stated that not only is India the world's biggest producer, processor and exporter of cashew nuts, it is also the largest consumer. <br></p> <p>Excluding groundnuts, the cashew nut is more affordable than other nuts and a key ingredient in a range of dishes, including curries and dessets. <br></p> <p>Though grown mainly in the south and western states of Karnataka, Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra, farmers in eastern coastal states like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have also begun growing them. <br></p> <p>“Cashew came to India in the 16th century and took roots in the coastal region, as its saplings found the local soil more congenial than in southern Europe where it originated,” Prabhu said. <br></p> <p>According to the Kochi-based state-run Cashew Export Promotion Council, the crop is grown across 700,000 hectares, producing around 400,000 tons of raw nuts in shells annually, though the yield per hectare is less than in Africa, Brazil, Indonesia and Vietnam for various reasons, including mechanization. <br></p> <p>“India was the first country to enter the world market with cashew kernels and pioneered its processing as an industry, with 4,000 units, employing about 400,000 people, 90 percent of them being women,” Prabhu added.<br></p><p></p>