Workshop on Scope for Extending Cashew Plantations in Non-traditional Areas

    A workshop on ‘Scope of extending cashew plantations in non- traditional areas’ was organized at ICAR- Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute in collaboration  with Association of Coastal Agricultural Research, on 23^rd December, 2019 under the Chairmanship of Dr S K Chaudhari, ADG (SWM), NRM Division, ICAR, New Delhi.  At the outset, Dr. A.R. Desai, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CCARI, Goa welcomed the dignitaries and delegates representing different states viz. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh where cashew is expanding in no-traditional areas.  Dr. E. B. Chakurkar; Director (A) gave his introductory remarks about the programme. Dr. S. K. Choudhary, ADG (NRM), ICAR, New Delhi gave his opening remarks about the Workshop and its aim. Dr. P. M. Haldankar; Director of Research, Dr. BSKKV, Dapoli highlighted the role of non-traditional cashew growing areas in his special remarks followed by an over view of cashew cultivation in non traditional area presented by Dr. A. R. Desai. Presentations were made on the present status, agro-climatic & edaphic  factors, constraints and scope for future expansion of cashew in non-traditional areas by Dr. P.K. Nagare, Dean, Faculty of Horticulture, PDKV, Akola, Maharashtra, for  non traditional areas of Vidarbha, Maharashtra, Dr. Muralidharan, Head Date Plam Research Station Mundra for Gujarat,  Dr. R.L.  Raut for districts of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. L. G. Hiregoudaur from ICAR-K. H. Patil KVK, for  Gadag district of Karnataka,  Dr. R. V. Hegde, Professor & Head, Department of Horticulture, UAS, Dharwad for Belgaum and Dharwad districts of Karnataka,  Dr. Srinivas with Dr Ravindra Mulge for Bidar District of Karnataka, Dr. Vishnuvardhan, ADR,  CoH, Bengaluru and  Dr. Laxmana from CRS, Ullal, Manglore for  cashew cultivation in southern Karnataka. The presentations were followed by the Brain storming open discussion in volving all the delegates and the Scientists of ICAR-CCARI, Goa for formulating the future road map for exploring the possibility of expanding the cashew cultivation in non-traditional areas in the country. Dr Chaudhari, ADG, in his concluding remarks, pinpointed the issues to be considered while drawing the action plan recommendations of the Workshop for submitting the same to the Director General, ICAR, New Delhi. The workshop ended with formal vote of thanks proposed by Dr. M. Thangam, Principal Scientist (vegetable Science) and Secretary of Association for Coastal Agricultural Research. Dr. Maneesha S.R., Scientist (Fruit Science) and Smt  Pranjali Wadekar, Tech Officer respectively facilitated  recording of the minutes of the workshop and the presentations by the delegates.