<p></p><p>The ailing cashew sector, mired in corruption and crisis in procuring raw cashew nuts, is back on revival path, it seems.Bringing cheers to the sector, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday demanded a special package for the sector from the Central Government. <br></p> <p>As per his demand, presented before Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the cashew sector is in need of ‘a revamping and restructuring package’ and had proposed a package in lines with the Centre’s just declared ‘special package for employment generation and promotion of exports in textile and apparel sector’. J Mercy Kutty Amma, the minister who handles the Cashew portfolio, said that it was a suggestion put forwarded by the owners of private cashew companies. “Earlier, the Chief Minister had held meeting with various stakeholders from cashew sector. In this meeting owners of private cashew companies requested Pinarayi to present a special package for the cashew sector before the PM,” she said. The state also has plans to set up a Cashew Board. “Though proposals in this regard were submitted to the Centre by the successive governments they get stonewalled. If the Centre rejects this time also, we will establish it on our own. A decision will be taken after Pinarayi returns from Delhi,” said Mercy Kutty. As the state is finding it difficult to procure raw cashew nuts, the state government is taking serious efforts to promote cashew cultivation. As a result, the government might consider the viability in converting the 4,000 hectares belonging to Hindustan Newsprint Ltd at Punalur for cashew cultivation. <br></p> <p>If the Centre comes out with a special package for cashew like that of Textile Industry then it might be a major booster for the ailing industry as the package might generate employment and boost exports.It was on June 22 that the Central Cabinet approved a special package for employment generation and promotion of exports in textile sector. As per the decision, ‘the package will lead to a cumulative increase of $30 billion in exports and investment of `74,000 crores over the next three years.<br></p><p></p>