<p></p><p>After field trials for over 13 years, a new improved cashew selection from Tiswadi with impressive characteristics is being readied for release as a more productive planting material for farmers in Goa. <br></p> <p>Branded as Goa-2 for its commercial launch, the Indian council of agricultural research (ICAR)- Central coastal agricultural research institute (CCARI), Old Goa, had picked this selection 18 years ago from a cashew plantation in Carambolim. <br></p> <p>Agro scientists at Old Goa are agog over the notable features of Goa-2. "It has an ultra-bold cashew nut weighing over 10g, a bigger apple, medium yield but the kernel is of premium export grade," A R Desai, agricultural scientist (cashew) ICAR, Old Goa complex, said. <br></p> <p>Technically, the kernel count of a bigger sized nut is referred to as W180 grade. A total of 180 processed whole kernels weigh a pound. The Goa-2 apple weighs more than 100g and the cashew nut yield is 8 to 10 kg per tree after 10 to 12 years of planting. <br></p> <p>The premium grade nut may not yield as much as Balli-2, which was released as Goa-1 more than a decade ago. The Balli variety is a bold nut variety with a weight of 7.7g but per tree yield is slightly better at 12 to 15 kg per tree. <br></p> <p>"Goa-2 has already been approved at national group meeting of scientists of all India coordinated research project (AICRP) on cashew of ICAR," N P Singh, director, ICAR-CCARI, Old Goa, said. <br></p> <p>It will be further submitted for the approval of the state variety release committee for statewide release. <br></p> <p>The Carambolim variety was researched by ICAR scientists at the Old Goa farm and offered to farmers under front line demonstration trials. "The long-term evaluation showed good results," Desai said. Research in developing high-yielding varieties is important, as farmers in Goa have to be content with low yields and smaller profits. <br></p> <p>Agricultural scientists are keen to popularize multiple varieties to cope with climate change. "Concentrating only on a single variety may be risky, as it may be susceptible to some disease or climate change and farmers may incur heavy losses in case of problems," Singh said. <br></p> <p>Balli-2, along with Vengurla varieties, was recommended as better planting material for Goa, but it is also included for multi-location trials outside Goa under AICRP programme. "In some places like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, it has done well and has been recommended for planting," Desai said. <br></p> <p>ICAR scientists are also developing two more selections, Ganjem-2, another bold nut variety like Goa-1 and Kn-2/98 from Quepem.<br></p><p></p>