Cashew Farming in Jashpur District
In Jashpur, cashew cultivation is being promoted on a large scale and the district administration is converting Jashpur into a cashew cultivation center. Managed by the Green Plus Cooperative Society with active assistance from the district administration, Jashpur cashew is being marketed all across. The administration is trying to popularize the brand outside Chhattisgarh as it has the potential to become a source of huge revenue for the district and the state.
The farmers of the district have been encouraged to cultivate cashew and many farmers have got positive results in the production of cashew in their fields. The district administration has established a cashew processing unit in Duldula. Cashew produced by farmers is graded, processed and polished in this unit. Processed cashew nuts are then packaged and marketed under the brand name Jashpur Cashew.
The establishment of the brand has helped provide a better platform for farmers to sell their produce. Earlier these farmers were selling cashew kernels at Rs 40 per kg, now they are selling them at a much higher rate. The farmers have been organized through the Farmers Producer Organization (FPO). They sell their production through FPO. The establishment of a processing unit and marketing under the brand has helped eliminate the intermediary. Thus everything is under control in the administration, from providing support to farmers in farm produce to selling unfinished products, processing and finally selling finished products under one brand. In such a system, the middlemen can get no opportunity to exploit the farmers.
Many farmers have increased their income through cashew farming in Jashpur. The initiatives of the district administration have been successful in achieving the primary objective of providing good prices to the farmers for their produce.
