Karnataka - Mangalore   

Import of raw cashew through NPT up

By Our Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE, JULY 14. Import of raw cashew through the New Mangalore Port (NPT) has gone up considerably in the past two years because of shortage in domestic production. As early rainfall this year has affected cashew production in the coastal belt, raw cashew processing units associated with the Mangalore Cashew Manufacturers' Association are planning to increase imports for 2004-05.

Import of raw cashew through the New Mangalore Port increased from 11,353 tonnes in 2002-03 to 20,770 tonnes in 2003-04.

The secretary of the Mangalore Cashew Manufacturers' Association, Rahul Kamath, told The Hindu that raw cashew harvesting (production) was about 20 per cent in March, 50 per cent in April, and 30 per cent in May. But this year, the early rainfall had resulted in halving the production.

He said Karnataka produced about 40,000 tonnes of raw cashew annually. The units in the State processed one lakh tonnes of raw cashew a year. Out of the one lakh tonnes of raw cashew, 25,000 tonnes of cashew kernels are produced.

He said in the last financial year processing units associated with the association had imported about 30,000 tonnes of raw cashew because of shortage in production. Of that about 20,770 tonnes were imported through the New Mangalore Port and the remaining through the Kochi port.

In 2004-05, he said, the association was planning to import 45,000 tonnes of raw cashew. This would be up by 15,000 tonnes compared to 2003-04. Of the 45,000 tonnes of raw cashew planned for import, 35,000 tonnes would be imported through the New Mangalore Port and the remaining through the Kochi port.

Mr. Kamath said that though Karnataka produced about 40,000 tonnes of raw cashew annually, the quantity was not enough to meet the demand. Hence, the processing units bought about 30,000 tonnes of raw cashew annually, mainly from Maharashtra and Kerala.

Of the four lakh tonnes of raw cashew produced in India annually, about 80,000 tonnes come from Kerala alone.

The export of cashew kernels from the New Mangalore Port went up from 5,336 tonnes in 2002-03 to 7,104 tonnes in 2003-04. It is estimated that the demand for cashew kernels in the country is growing at 10 per cent annually.

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