The Hindu Business Line : KCMA plans to strengthen cashew industry in State

THE Karnataka Cashew Manufacturers' Association (KCMA), which is in the golden jubilee year, has drawn up various infrastructure development projects to strengthen cashew industry in the State.

In this regard, it has envisaged projects such as establishment of a warehouse for cashew kernels and a storage and drying facility for raw cashewnuts in Mangalore. Apart from this, it also wants to set up Karnataka Institute for Cashew Development in Udupi district.

The KCMA President, Mr K. Prakash Rao, told Business Line that the proposed projects would give impetus to the growth of cashew industry in the State.

The association wants to take up these projects under the Industrial Cluster Development Scheme of the Union Government. It has drawn up a Rs 30-crore project proposal in this regard. The association covers more than 250 cashew-manufacturing units across the State.

Most of the sub-projects under the scheme are aimed at helping small cashew manufacturers in the State.

To protect raw cashewnuts from unseasonal rainfall, the association wants to construct a drying and storing facility in Mangalore. Following unseasonal rainfall last year, cashew manufacturers in coastal Karnataka were forced to transport raw cashewnuts to rice mills in Bellary and other regions for drying.

The need for a cashew kernel warehouse in the region is gaining importance, as most of the cashew-processing units in coastal Karnataka are situated in rural areas. In this regard, KCMA has proposed to set up a warehouse near New Mangalore Port.

The association also wants to set up a facility for handling imported raw cashewnut, to the cluster member. Though manufacturing units in Karnataka can process 1-lakh tonnes of cashew nut, the State grows about 35,000 tonnes of cashew. Following this, a large quantity of raw cashewnut is being imported from other countries. A raw cashewnut handling facility will help small manufactures who face problems in importing small lots of raw cashewnuts.

Mr Rao said that the association also wants to set up a Karnataka Institute for Cashew Development in Udupi. Such an institute can provide the cluster member with new technology on cashew processing. Apart from this, cashew workers can be trained there on various aspects of processing.

Other project proposals include establishment of a cashew apple syrup unit and marketing units for roasted and salted cashews.

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