To save the cashew industry Bengal needs Cashew Development Corporation.
In West Bengal,there is no specific State Cashew Development Corporation. While other Indian states—such as Kerala, Odisha, or Karnataka—have dedicated cashew development corporations.
The cultivation and processing of cashew in West Bengal are primarily managed through various nodal agencies under the state government's Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles and the Department of Agricultural Marketing.
The cashew industry is currently facing a severe crisis. Cultivation is being carried out without any form of training or technical support; farmers receive virtually no incentives, assistance, or cooperation from the government .
In West Bengal,there is no specific State Cashew Development Corporation. While other Indian states—such as Kerala, Odisha, or Karnataka—have dedicated cashew development corporations.
The cultivation and processing of cashew in West Bengal are primarily managed through various nodal agencies under the state government's Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles and the Department of Agricultural Marketing.
The cashew industry is currently facing a severe crisis. Cultivation is being carried out without any form of training or technical support; farmers receive virtually no incentives, assistance, or cooperation from the government .
So,to save the cashew industry Bengal needs Cashew Development Corporation. The formation of such a dedicated corporation or board could transforme state's cashew farmers,
and the rural economy as a whole.
We know coastal areas of Kanthi and Digha in East Medinipur, there are currently over a thousand cashew processing units, but cashew cultivation in these region are declining . To meet the shortage of raw materials, these processing units are forced to rely on cashews imported from Africa.
Finally, I would like to mention that states like Odisha and Kerala have their own Cashew Development Corporations, which have significantly advanced this industry. If the Government of West Bengal considers this proposal and establishes a State Cashew Development Corporation, it would not only save the industry but also create a new wave of growth for the state's agriculture-based economy.
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Tanmay Bandopadhyay

