Cashew Stakeholders’ Workshop on Analysis of Cashew Value Chain in Goa at this Institute
Cashew Stakeholders’ Workshop on Analysis of Cashew Value Chain in Goa
ICAR-CCARI hosted a workshop on “Analysis of Cashew Value Chain in Goa” on 31.10.2017, to facilitate a Project of The Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development, Kochi, executed through the University of Agril. Sciences, Dharwad. The overall programme, highlighted the importance of Cashew crop for the Goa’s economy and the role of each stakeholder in the value chain of cashew industry for the sustainable futuristic prospects. Cashew farmers being the first link of cashew value chain, expressed the concern about the major constraints such as need for location specific varieties, permanent solution for cashew stem and root borer, marketing problems, role of co-operative societies, post harvest handling of RCNs and cashew apples, small scale processing opportunities and constraints, raw cashew nut price policies, researchable issues, etc., during the technical sessions. The uniqueness of the workshop was evident among the participants who were in themselves, the cashew farmers, processors, agriculture officers, extension and marketing agencies also. While presiding over the function, Dr. E B Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CCARI, emphatically remarked for the complementary interaction among the stakeholders for the mutual benefit of each one, right from Farmer to the consumer. In his inaugural address Dr. Venkatesh Hubballi, Director, DCCD, Kochi, emphasized the need of such value chain studies for stabilizing the national cashew scenario for competing in the international market. Shri Naveen Kumar Patle, Deputy Commissioner(Hort.), DAC & FW, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, while addressing the gathering as Chief guest, stressed for a comprehensive report of the project for constructive action plan for addressing the farmers’ concerns. Shri Nelson Figueiredo, Director, Directorate of Agriculture, Government of Goa, Shri Madhav Sahakari, Chairman, Goa Cashew Manufacturers Association , Shri Ullas Gopal Asnodkar, Chairman, Goa State Agriculture Marketing Board, besides addressing the inaugural gathering, actively interacted as vital stakeholders of the Goa cashew economy, in the technical sessions revolving around production problems, processing & value addition and marketing including import and export problems. Dr. S M Mundinamani, Professor (Agril. Economics ) and the Principal Investigator of the project of cashew value chain analysis in Goa was appraised by the participating cashew stakeholders, of the ground realities of the cashew economy in Goa for incorporating in the analysis of the cashew value chain in Goa for preparing the pragmatic report for subsequent action plan.