- Taste, quality and increasing demand changed the fortunes of thousands of farmers.
- 7800 farmers are involved in cashew production, the sweetness of Jashpur is reaching many states of the country.
- Sunil Tripathi, Assistant Director
- Nutan Sidar, Assistant Director
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai, Jashpur district is continuously reaching new heights in agriculture and horticulture. Along with traditional farming, farmers are now rapidly shifting toward cash crops and fruit crops. Crops like apples, pears, strawberries, and cashews are strengthening the rural economy. Among these, cashew production has emerged as a strong and reliable source of income for farmers.
- Cashew cultivation strengthens rural economy
Thanks to the combined efforts of the district administration, the Horticulture Department, REEDS, and NABARD, cashew production in the district has expanded rapidly. Currently, approximately 7,800 farmers in the district cultivate cashews on approximately 7,800 acres of land. Most farmers are earning a substantial income by cultivating cashews on their one-acre farm.
Cashew production has not only increased farmers’ incomes but also created new employment and self-reliance opportunities in rural areas.
- The demand for Jashpur cashew is increasing across the country
The cashews produced in Jashpur have gained a special recognition for their sweetness, quality, and excellent taste. This is why demand for them is steadily increasing in other districts of Chhattisgarh, as well as in states like Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. Jashpur cashews are steadily gaining popularity among traders and consumers. Jashpur cashews have established a distinct market for their quality.
- Cashew has emerged as a profitable cash crop.
Cashews are proving to be a highly profitable cash crop for farmers. According to agricultural experts, grafted plants produce fruit faster and yield higher yields.
- Favorable time and method for planting
- Planting trees during the rainy season is considered most suitable.
- A distance of about 7 to 8 meters is maintained between the plants.
- Plants are planted in pits by mixing cow dung manure and soil.
- Necessary care for better production
- Regular irrigation is necessary in the initial years.
- Weed control and periodic pruning improves production.
- The plants start bearing fruits after 3 to 4 years.
- Full production is achieved in 8 to 10 years.
- On an average, 8 to 15 kg of cashew nuts can be obtained from a mature tree.
- Many economic benefits are derived from cashew nuts
Cashews are widely used in sweets, snacks, and dried fruits. Industrial oil is also produced from cashew shells, providing farmers with an opportunity for additional income. Cashew trade and export are steadily strengthening farmers’ economic well-being.
- Jashpur is creating a new identity in the field of horticulture.
This success in cashew production in Jashpur is the result of the hard work of farmers, modern farming techniques, and the effective implementation of government schemes. The growing cultivation of fruit and cash crops in the district is now bringing prosperity to the lives of farmers and giving Jashpur a new identity in the fields of agriculture and horticulture.