Lok Sabha Question No. 625 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-06
Subject: Problems faced by Cashew Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.625

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06 TH  FEBRUARY, 2024

## PROBLEMS FACED BY CASHEW FARMERS

625. SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the issues being faced by cashew farmers in Andhra  Pradesh  and  if  so,  the  details  regarding  the  steps  undertaken  by  the  Union Government to address the plight of the cashew farmers;
- (b) whether the Government has received any proposal from the State Government of Andhra  Pradesh  regarding  the  ongoing  crisis  faced  by  cashew  farmers  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has received any proposal from the State Government of Andhra Pradesh for setting up a Cashew Board under the Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has carried out any research into the Cashew Farmer's issues in Andhra Pradesh and considered a relief package for them; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

- (a): Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for holistic development of horticulture which includes development  of  cashewnut  through  Directorate  of  Cashewnut  and  Cocoa  Development (DCCD).  The  programmes  implemented  by  DCCD  include  nursery  programmes  for supplying of planting material, establishment of new plantation, replacing senile plantations, Field Level Technology Demonstrations (FLTD), capacity building to increase the  production  and  productivity  of  cashewnut  in  the  country  including  Andhra  Pradesh.

However, recently, farmers have been facing problems in the production of cashewnut due to  biotic  and  abiotic  problems  like  tea  mosquito  insect  and  cyclones  etc.  in  the  country including Andhra Pradesh.

(b): Proposal  regarding  crisis  faced  by  farmers  in  Andhra  Pradesh  has  not  been received from the State Government of Andhra Pradesh.

(c): Proposal for setting up of Cashew Board under the DCCD has not been received from the State Government of Andhra Pradesh.

(d) & (e): Dr. YSR Horticultural University (YSRHU) - Cashew Research Station, Bapatla is conducting research work on cashew in Andhra Pradesh and has developed improved varieties of Cashew like BPP-5, BPP-8, BPP-9, BPP-10 and BPP-11 for higher productivity and  improved  yield.  The  Research  Station,  Bapatla  is  also  producing  cashew  grafts  of recommended  varieties  in significant quantity and  distributing to the  farmers  and conducting  various  training  programmes  on  modern  cashew  production  technology  to bring  awareness  among  cashew  farmers  for  adoption  of  improved  varieties  of  cashew grafts in place of seedling origin plants.

The  State  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  has  informed  that  during  Titli  Cyclone 23,823.48  hectares  of  Cashew  orchards  were  damaged  for  which  input  subsidy  of Rs. 4764.69 lakh was released to 70,445 farmers during 2020. An additional compensation  was  also  provided  @  Rs.  20,000/-  per  hectare  to  Cashew  farmers  for 20,168.85  hectares  and  an  input  subsidy  of  Rs.  3964.72  lakh  was  released  to  64,413 farmers during 2022.

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