Cashew growers in the country are expected to get a national-level association to take care of their interests. Recently, a group of cashew growers, experts and representatives from the cooperative sector conducted a meeting at Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka. It stressed on the need to set up an ‘all-India cashew growers’ association’.
According to Mohana GS, a Senior Scientist at the Puttur-based Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR), "The proposed association would act as a voice of farmers at the State and national levels. However, he made it clear that the directorate is only facilitating such a move."
He added, "As, the cashew crop is gaining the attention of farmers across the country, there is no association of growers at national-level. The proposed association will act as a voice of farmers at national-level and will also be a bridge between growers in different states. Adding to it, it will also help liaise between growers and various line departments related to cashew."
Interestingly, the association will help impart knowledge to farmers on different technological advances in the sector. It also wants to encourage promotion of farmer producers’ organisations (FPOs).
It is good to know that, DCR has 14 All-India Coordinated Research Project on Cashew centres across the country. These centres are connected with several growers in their respective areas of operations. The association will get the help of these centres in creating awareness about the need for such an association at the national level, he mentioned.
He further added, "Growers in some parts of the country have their own associations at the local and regional levels. They will be encouraged to become a part of the national body of growers."
