Even as emphasis is being laid on promoting substitute crops for making farming sustainable, especially in the light of farmers’ suicides, several farmers from old Mysuru region have shown interest in taking up cashew cultivation, which is being promoted as a “workable” option.
Farmers from Kodagu and Mandya too had shown enthusiasm to switch over to cashew cultivation, adopting modern and scientific practices.
As many as 125 farmers from Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajnagar, Hassan and Kodagu districts attended a programme on cashew cultivation at the College of Horticulture here recently and collected details on the advantages of cashew cultivation from scientists, experts and cashew farmers.
Karnataka Horticulture University Vice-chancellor, D.L. Maheshwar, said that cashew cultivation will become a suitable alternative crop in the years ahead as it can be grown in areas which receive deficient rains.
“In the next five to 10 years, I am sure Karnataka will become one of the major producers of cashew in the country,” he said.
He advised cashew growers to constitute growers’ groups like coffee and arecanut growers to ensure better price for their produce.
He called upon the Karnataka Cashew Development Board, the Cashew Research Board and the Directorate for Cashew and Cocoa and the Department of Horticulture to come up with schemes for small and medium farmers to encourage cashew cultivation.
Growers speak
On the occasion, cashew grower from Puttur, Subash Rai, advised farmers to take up cashew cultivation without any doubts about its sustainability and said he would extend all possible help in this part of the region.
Giving valuable suggestions on cashew cultivation, Mr Rai narrated his experiences as a cashew farmer and how he made it possible with hard work and dedication. Another cashew grower, Ramesh Kikkeri, spoke on value addition to cashew cultivation and advised farmers to work in fields for at least eight hours to reap a rich harvest.
Farmers from Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajnagar, Hassan and Kodagu districts attend programme on cashew cultivation
