AgriNation News Network

Mumbai. 07 Feb 2018

Valpoi: In Sattari, almost 75 per cent villagers’ livelihood depends on cashew crops, since past many decades. And for the last five years, cashew plantation in the region is growing at around 20 hector per year in the taluka. Today, the total area under cashew plantation is around 5000 hectors in the taluka. Farmers from the areas like Charawnem, Thane, Pali, Dhave, Brahmakarmali, Dabe, Zarme, Mauxi, and Velge solely depend on this cash crop for their livelihood. Cashew farmers and agriculturists in Sattari taluka have expressed happiness over the cold spells experienced for the last many days, as it could boost cashew production in the area. According to an agriculture department official, a cooler climate will help cashew production this year.Since the past several days, there has been a dip in temperature and this is favourable to cashew production. Cashew plants are already showing abundant quantity of flowers, which will turn in to cashew fruits, says Assistant Zonal officer, Valpoi Yeshwant Gawas.Zonal officers too affirm that cold climate will help sustain the flowers and hoped the spell would last for at least 15 more days. This conducive climate has also brought cheer to cashew farmers in the region.
Cashew crop is the only source of income for the people of Sattari taluka and most of the people are directly or indirectly dependent on cashew plantations.
Last year people benefited with a good cashew production because of favourable conditions. This year too, we expect a good crop, hopes a cashew farmer Shamba Gaonkar. Last year, cashew producers benefited with good price for their produce in the local and national market, affirms, a local Bhanudas Salelkar says.Valpoi Zonal Agriculture officer Prakash Raut pointed out that Sattari taluka has emerged as the leading cashew production taluka, as compared to other talukas in the state. Most of the barren land is filled with cashew species of various varieties but V-7 (Vengurla -7) is a variety with a high yield. This year favourable climatic condition will benefit cashew producers.The cashew tree is a tropical evergreen tree that produces the cashew seed and the cashew apple. It can grow as high as 14 m (46 ft) height.

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