Srikakulam’s signature crop – cashew – has won the Best National Award in 2025 in horticulture under the One District, One Product (ODOP) programme. This award will be presented at a ceremony in New Delhi on July 14. Farmers and experts across Srikakulam district are celebrating this recognition as validation of their years of innovation and hard work. According to district horticulture officer Ratnala Varaprasad, Srikakulam region has emerged as a cashew powerhouse under the ODOP initiative. Approximately 24,000 hectares are dedicated to cashew cultivation, with 22,000 hectares in full production. More than 105,000 farming families depend on cashew for their livelihoods, including 31,000 marginal households, 56,000 smallholders, and 18,000 larger estates.