It used to be a long barren strip below the high-tension transmission line. Now, more than 100 hectares of fallow land under Oil Palm India Ltd. and Rehabilitation Plantations Ltd. flaunt a straggling orchard dotted with fruits.
The young cashew plants stand soaking in sunshine, many of them ready for harvest. Cultivated as part of the efforts to extend cashew farming, the plants will not grow beyond a particular height, making it a viable crop below the power line. The high-yielding variety starts flowering in the first year and within five years the plants offer a steady yield.
₹12 lakh a year
“Since we can’t grow rubber trees under the high-tension line, we opted for cashew in 40 hectares of land. We have planted dwarf varieties such as Priyanka and Dharasree that ensure an average ₹12 lakh a year,” says R. Jayaprakash, estate manager, Rehabilitation Plantations Ltd.
All the saplings for the projects were provided for free by the Kerala State Cashew Development Development Corporation (KSCDC). Oil Palm India Ltd. has over 3,500 hectares of plantation in Yeroor, Chithara, and Kulathupuzha and the services of plantation labourers along with MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) workers were used for maintaining the plants.
Minimal cost
“Compared to other crops, production cost is minimal for cashew plants. While the production cost of 1 kg rubber is ₹180, it’s just ₹10 for cashew. Rubber plants take around seven years to give yield, whereas cashew can be harvested from the third year. After the fifth year the trees will produce a good and stable yield. One hectare of land will accommodate nearly 240 saplings and each will produce around 15 kg of cashew after the fifth year. Last year the price was fixed as ₹120 per kg which means it ensures a good profit. The Chithara estate under Oil Palm India Ltd. could produce raw cashew nut worth ₹2 lakh in the second year itself,” says S. Jayamohan, KSCDC chairman.
At present the cashew industry in the State needs around 8 lakh tonnes of raw cashew nut for its factories operating in private and public sectors. The crisis in the sector triggered by the shortage of raw nut had forced the government to expand cashew cultivation and launch an intensive procurement drive.
Subsidy, free saplings
“Kerala’s domestic production was 80,000 tonnes last year and we are expecting 1.3 lakh tonnes this year. We are trying to identify stretches left idle under HT lines on different estates and start cashew farming there. For the first three years the government will offer a subsidy along with free saplings,” adds Mr. Jayamohan.
