The low supply of cashew kernel in Goa this year, owing to unseasonal rains and heat has increased their prices, finally benefitting the cashew growers in the state.

Cashews are being sold at Rs 82 per kg, as against the price of Rs 60 per kg, last year.

The cashew farmers faced the brunt of unseasonal rains and erratic temperature this year when cashew flowers were either flushed away with rains or burnt with the heat.

State agriculture director Satish Tendulkar said that the projection of cashew production which was high during the initial days of the season, plummeted due to natural factors.

The production of cashews, which was supposed to touch an average mark of 25,000 metric tonnes this year, will now hardly reach 22,000 metric tonnes. The season will come to an end soon.

"The cashew growers were apprehensive about the production due to prolonged rains, which destroyed cashew flowers even before it could grow well," he said.

Goa’s farming talukas like Sattari, Sanguem, Quepem, Canacona, Ponda, Bicholim and Pernem has maximum cashew cultivation along the sloppy mountains, during summer.

Cashew, which was introduced in Goa by the Portuguese in the 16th century, mainly to control soil erosion and to use in afforestation programmes, has now become an important cash crop in the state.

Alcoholic drinks like fenny and urrac are extracted from the cashew apple, which rules the liquor business during this time of the year.

Farmers got relief from losses, as there was a shortfall in the imports of cashew kernel from African nations, which is a traditional market for various cashew processing units in the country.

"This resulted in the rise of cashew prices. They were sold for Rs 82 per kg as against the price of Rs 60 per kg last year," Tendulkar said.

The state government records stated that although there is a significant increase in the area under cashew plantation, there has been no increase in its productivity.

As per the statistics, in 1961, when Goa was liberated from Portuguese rule, there was 13,513 hectares land under cashew cultivation, which has now increased to 47,094 hectare.

It is grown in an area of 47,094 hectares, which comes to 30 percent of the total cultivated area.