MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHRIPAD Y.NAIK)
(a): No, Sir.
(b): The cost of production of cashew as estimated during the beginning of the Ninth
Plan (1996-97) was Rs.2460/- per quintal. The average prevailing price of raw
cashewnut during the last two years is as follow:
Year Price (Rs./quintal)
1999 3917/- 2000 4108/-
(c): The details of export of cashew during the past three years are given below:
Year Quantity(Tonnes) Value(Rs. in crore)
1997-98 76593 1396.10 1998-99 77076 1630.08 1999-2000 92461 2451.45
The major countries to which cashew is being exported are United States of
America, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Australia,
France, Canada and Saudi Arabia.
(d): There is no proposal to declare support price for cashew. However, cashew
being horticultural crop is covered under the Market Intervention Scheme, wherein
market operation is done on the request of State Government.
(e): Raw cashewnut is being imported to meet the demand of the cashew processing
inudstry. During 1999-2000, 2.26 lakh tonnes of raw cashewnut were imported valued
at Rs. 1054.00 crores. However, there is no report on the smuggling of cashew to India.
(f)&(g): There is no proposal to increase the import duty of cashew.
