<p>Cashew (<em>Anacardium</em><em> occidentale</em> L.), often referred to as ‘wonder nut’, is one of the most valuable processed nuts traded on the global commodity markets and is also an important cash crop. It has the potential to provide source of livelihood for the cashew growers, empower rural women in the processing sector, create employment opportunities and generate foreign exchange through exports. The Govt, both at Centre and state level are providing many subsidies/programs which can be beneficial to various stakeholders in the cashew value chain. In this special coverage our focus is on schemes which support establishment and maintenance of cashew plantations. In further articles, we would look at the benefits/schemes for cashew processors, marketers etc.</p> <p>The economic value of cashew has been realized in India since mid sixties. A central Agency, Directorate of Cashew nut Development was set up in 1966 for promotion of the sector. Centrally aided programmes were started under public and private lands to improve its productivity. Research on cashew was started with the inception of All India Coordinated Cashew Improvement Project under ICAR. Developmental programmes on area expansion, replanting, demonstration, regional nurseries, etc. were started during the plan periods and these measures have supported the growth of cashew production, processing and trade in India.</p> <ol> <li><strong>Central schemes</strong></li> </ol> <p>Currently, National Horticulture Mission (NHM), a centrally sponsored scheme has been launched to promote holistic growth of the horticulture sector through strategies like ensuring an end-to-end holistic approach covering production, post harvest management, processing and marketing. All these will ensure appropriate returns to producers, enhance acreage and increase productivity. Besides, extension of appropriate technology, promotion of R&D technologies for production, post-harvest management and processing, setting up of post harvest facilities, etc. would also boost production and productivity. Assistance is provided for plantation infrastructure and development, establishment of new gardens, promotion of INM (Integrated nutrient management) /IPM (Integrated pest management), etc. under the programme.</p> <p><strong>NHM programmes /subsidy</strong></p> <p>Subsidy for Cashew Area Expansion - Cultivation of cashew grafts in new area with varieties like V4, V7, V8, Balli 2 and other high yielding varieties recommended by ICAR is promoted. The cumulative maximum benefit per farmer is 4 ha. Subsidy is provided after planting is completed for a period of 3 years in the ratio of 60:20:20 to provide total subsidy of Rs. 20,000/- per ha.</p> <p>Subsidy for Rejuvenation/replacement of senile plantation and canopy Management– The programme is for rejuvenating the old cashew nut gardens by providing required inputs and adopting soil and water conservation measures, pruning of dead wood, removal of senile trees and filling the gaps in the open areas. Assistance in form of inputs for manuring, micronutrients and integrated pest management and for bunding/trenching @ Rs. 15,000/- per hectare for maximum of 2 ha. per beneficiary is provided. The farmer also gets subsequent benefits from this scheme for the next three years.</p> <p>Subsidy for organic farming – Farmers can also avail subsidy for organic farming of cashew plants. An assistance of Rs 10,000 per ha can be availed for adoption and certification of cost of organic farming in three installments over a period of three years, provided farmers ready to come together and form a cluster of 50 hectares for accreditation.</p> <p><strong>Directorate of Cashew nut and Cocoa Development (DCCD) </strong></p> <p>The Directorate of Cashew nut and Cocoa Development is one of the organization set up by the Govt. of India to promote overall development of the crop of Cashew nut and Cocoa in India. DCCD came into being with effect from 01.04.1966 at Cochin as subordinate office of the Union Ministry of Agriculture with primary objective of development of cashew nut in the country. DCCD is responsible for formulation and coordination of schemes programmes for development of cashew nut & cocoa in the country.</p> <p><strong>Programmes</strong><strong>/schemes adopted by DCCD for cashew cultivation</strong></p> <p>1) New planting of cashew with normal density – The objective of the scheme is to develop new plantations with clones of high yielding varieties of the cashew in the farmers’ field. In this scheme the beneficiaries will be assisted as per the NHM guidelines. The beneficiaries get subsidy of Rs 20,000/- per ha limited to 4 ha per beneficiary in three installments of 60:20:20.</p> <p>2) Replacing senile plantations and replanting with clones of high yielding varieties – In this programme the beneficiaries can avail subsidy to the maximum of Rs 20,000/- in three years at 60:20:20 basis for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd years respectively.</p> <p>3) Rejuvenation of cashew plantation – This programme is undertaken to enhance the productivity of cashew plantation through the application of practices like mild pruning, clearing the area, application of fertilizers and manures, adoption of soil conservation and irrigation practices. In this scheme the subsidy of Rs 15,000 per ha for 3 years was provided at 50:30:20 basis. After 3rd year assistance of Rs 3000 per ha is provided for maintenance.</p> <ol> <li><strong>State Specific Schemes</strong></li> </ol> <p><strong>Meghalaya</strong>: To boost up the area and production of plantation crops like Areca nut, Cashew nut, Coconut in the state; adopting new strategies in line with the tea package scheme Assistance is provided for rising plantation of minimum area of 0.5 Ha, for a period of three years under Plantation development Schemes.</p> <p>Pattern of Assistance:</p> <p>Year 0- Rs.15,000/- per farmer/Ha</p> <p>Year 1st- Rs.9000/- per farmer/Ha</p> <p>Year 2nd-Rs.8,500/- per farmer/Ha</p> <p><strong>Maharashtra: </strong>In November 2002, Maharashtra Agricultural Department with the help of NABARD and the NGO Gopuri Ashram has applied “Employment guarantee scheme” to cashew cultivation (subsidies for planting and expansion of the acreage) and the cashew industry (assistance for the purchase of processing machinery and interest subsidy) in Sindhudurg, under the name of the “Cluster Development Programme” under the National Programme for Rural Industrialization (NPRI).</p> <p><strong>Tamil Nadu: </strong>In Tamil Nadu to bring more area under cashew and to replace the existing unproductive old orchard with clonal plants to improve production and productivity of the crop GOI extends almost full subsidy under the programme “Integrated programme for development of cashew”. Under this scheme, high yielding cashew grafts, fertilizers and plant protection chemicals are distributed to farmers at 100% subsidy as detailed below:</p> <table cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td rowspan="2" style="width:207.9pt"> <p>Particular</p> </td> <td colspan="4" style="width:270.9pt"> <p>Per hectare subsidy towards planting materials, fertilizers, plant protection chemicals and gap filling</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:88.55pt"> <p>I year</p> </td> <td style="width:57.75pt"> <p>II year</p> </td> <td style="width:61.15pt"> <p>III year</p> </td> <td style="width:63.45pt"> <p>IV year</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:207.9pt"> <p>Area expansion programme for planting export oriented varieties</p> </td> <td style="width:88.55pt"> <p>2100</p> </td> <td style="width:57.75pt"> <p>1500</p> </td> <td style="width:61.15pt"> <p>1700</p> </td> <td style="width:63.45pt"> <p>850</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:207.9pt"> <p>Rejuvenation of old cashew plantations</p> </td> <td style="width:88.55pt"> <p>2800</p> </td> <td style="width:57.75pt"> <p>2200</p> </td> <td style="width:61.15pt"> <p>2400</p> </td> <td style="width:63.45pt"> <p> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:207.9pt"> <p>Assistance for private nurseries</p> </td> <td colspan="4" style="width:270.9pt"> <p>To establish and maintain private nurseries, a revolving fund of Rs.3.00 lakh per nursery is provided.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:207.9pt"> <p>Adoption of Intensive Pest control measures.</p> </td> <td style="width:88.55pt"> <p>8000 twice in a year</p> </td> <td colspan="3" style="width:182.35pt"> <p> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:207.9pt"> <p>Training to farmers</p> </td> <td colspan="4" style="width:270.9pt"> <p>Rs 250/- per beneficiary. (Assistance towards food, training equipments and transport)</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p><strong>Goa</strong>: Govt. of Goa has announced subsidy to a tune of 75% of cost of cultivation for cashew growers in 2012-13 budget.</p> <p><strong>Odhisa</strong>: Directorate of Horticulture functions under the Ministry of Agriculture in the Government of Odisha has taken up mango and cashew plantation under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Under this scheme up to 2009-10 1577.15 hectare area is covered with cashew plantation.</p> <p><strong>Orissa State Cashew Development Corporation Ltd </strong></p> <p>Orissa State Cashew Development Corporation Ltd (OSCDC) has taken steps to supply hybrid cashew grafts to cashew farmers by producing grafts from outside State nurseries and from its own nurseries from 1996 to till today under the centrally sponsored Integrated Development Programme for Cashew, National Horticulture Mission Programme and through different schemes of the Govt. of Orissa. Under the scheme the corporation has supplied 87,37,693 nos. of high yielding cashew grafts to cashew farmers covering 47524.69 hectares since from 1996.</p>