<p>Minister for Forests K. Raju has said that after proper consideration, forest areas presently used for plantations will be made available for cashew plantations to whatever extent possible. “This is for the purpose of augmenting domestic production of raw cashew nuts which is vital for the survival of the cashew-processing industry in the State that provides employment to lakhs of people, a majority of them women.”</p> <p>Mr. Raju said this while addressing a gathering after inaugurating planting of cashew saplings at the Edamulakkal factory complex of the public-sector Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation (KSCDC) on Saturday. He said that only if domestic production of raw cashew was increased could there be a guarantee on job security for the cashew workers. The saplings were planted on the land of the factory complex that had been lying idle for years.</p> <p><strong>Jute bags to workers</strong></p> <p>KSCDC chairman S. Jayamohan said that 300 cashew saplings were planted in the compound. As part of the efforts to keep the KSCDC factories plastic-free, jute bags were distributed to the Edamulakkal KSCDC factory workers at the function.</p>