In the coastal and arid regions of India, cashew cultivation has long been a traditional livelihood for countless small and marginal farmers. However, this age-old occupation is increasingly under threat due to challenges like erratic rainfall patterns, shrinking labor availability, and unprofitable market rates for conventional cashew varieties. These hurdles have made it difficult for many growers to sustain their incomes and continue farming effectively, especially in rain-dependent areas.
Amidst these challenges, the Nethra Jumbo-1 cashew variety—developed by the ICAR–Directorate of Cashew Research in Puttur, Karnataka—offers a promising solution. Specially bred for rainfed regions, Nethra Jumbo-1 stands out with its jumbo-sized nuts, superior kernel quality, lower labor requirements, and strong market value. With its high yield potential and economic returns, this innovative variety has emerged as a lifeline for smallholders across Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu, helping them build resilient agri-enterprises in the face of climatic and economic uncertainty.
Big Nuts, Big Gains: Market Advantage
The most distinguishing aspect of Nethra Jumbo-1 is its large nut size, weighing approximately 12 grams each. The kernels are of W130 grade, which is graded as premium export-grade quality. Larger nuts not only are convenient to handle during processing but also are more remunerative in domestic as well as export markets.
Farmers growing Nethra Jumbo-1 will receive a 10% premium over traditional varieties such as Bhaskara and NRCC Selection-2. That premium is a game-saver. With the right marketing, farmers can get a lot more from the same plot of land.
For instance, if a farmer who is getting 1 ton of raw cashew from traditional varieties gets Rs. 1,00,000. By adopting Nethra Jumbo-1, he/she can increase that to Rs. 1,10,000 or even higher without having to invest more in fertilizer, irrigation, or pesticides.
Reducing Labor, Increasing Efficiency
One of the main reasons cashew cultivation may become challenging is during harvesting. All cashew plants yield dispersed fruits, which require several rounds to harvest. But Nethra Jumbo-1 is an exception, producing 5 to 6 fruits per cluster. This makes the farmer harvest more nuts at one time, making fewer rounds a reality, as well as keeping labor costs to a minimum.
In addition, the uniform, high-quality, and simple-to-shell nuts facilitate post-harvest processing with less time and effort. Nethra Jumbo-1 can simplify women's workloads and enhance productivity in areas where women Self Help Groups (SHGs) handle home-based processing of cashew.
Economic Potential for Rural Enterprises
Nethra Jumbo-1 is not only for small-scale farmers. It has also got high economic value for farmer-producer organizations (FPOs), village-level processing units, and cashew exporters. Due to its uniform size and premium quality, it can directly be sold to consumers who pay more for superior quality nuts.
Cashew producers can realize additional profits by marketing branded and packed Nethra Jumbo-1 kernel pieces for urban households or overseas export. The high kernel weight average of 3.4 grams helps minimize breakage at packaging stage and return high profits after processing cashew kernels. Further, buyers welcome sizes of identical pieces, making the variety grade consistent with requirements for Indian as well as overseas grades.
A Trusted Innovation from ICAR-DCR, Puttur
Nethra Jumbo-1 is the result of long-term research and farm trials conducted by ICAR–Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR) at Puttur, Karnataka. ICAR-DCR has a long tradition of working towards the cashew farmers' welfare. Their effort integrates science with field pragmatism so that the varieties they bring out are field-tested under actual farmer conditions.
Supported by ICAR, the variety guarantees not only quality but also trustworthiness, and it becomes simpler for farmers to avail of government schemes, nursery planting material, and technical guidance.
Way Forward: A Profitable Future for Cashew Farmers
Agriculture today is not merely cultivating crops but making intelligent decisions to earn more. With Nethra Jumbo-1, cashew farmers can expect reduced input costs, less manpower, and more profits—a recipe for rural prosperity.
Whether you are a smallholder seeking a reliable crop or a budding entrepreneur hoping to launch a cashew venture, this variety provides a solid base. It delivers the finest in science, sustainability, and market worth into the hands of India's diligent farming community. The time has come to move towards better farming. It's time to cultivate with Nethra Jumbo-1.
