It is native to Brazil country. It is an important nut grown and ranks first in the world. Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Goa and Andhra Pradesh are the major states doing cashew farming. India is doing cashew farming in almost 3.81 lakh acre land and gets an annual production of 2.69 lakh tonnes of raw cashew. India is the third largest producer of cashews and is second largest consumer. It also has health benefits such as it helps to prevent cancer, lowers high blood pressure, helps in digestion and helps in making gums and teeth healthy.

It is grown in variety of soils ranging from red sandy loam, coastal sand and lateritic soil. It gives best result when grown in deep sandy loam soil having good drainage system and slightly acidic. Avoid cashew farming in heavy clay soil or excessive saline and alkaline soil. Do not plant on the soil having pH more than 8.0.

Selection 1: It gives an average yield of 10kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 7.6gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 2.2gm.

Selection 2: It gives an average yield of 9kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 9.2gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 2.5gm.

Ullal 1: It gives an average yield of 16kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 6.7gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 2.1gm.

Ullal 2: It gives an average yield of 9kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 6.0gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.8gm.

Ullal 3: It gives an average yield of 14.7 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 7.0gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 2.0gm.

Ullal 4: It gives an average yield of 9.5kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 7.2gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 2.2gm.

Ullal 5: It gives an average yield of 10.5 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 9.0gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 2.9gm.

Chintamani: It gives an average yield of 7.2kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 6.9gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 2.1gm.

BPP 3: It gives an average yield of 11 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 4.8gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.3gm.

BPP 4: It gives an average yield of 10.5 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 6.0gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.3gm.

BPP 5: It gives an average yield of 11kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 5.2gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.2gm.

BPP 6: It gives an average yield of 10.5 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 5.2gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.2gm.

Jhargram 1: It gives an average yield of 8.5 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 5.0gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.5gm.

Anakkayam: It gives an average yield of 12 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 6.0gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.7gm.

Sulabha: It gives an average yield of 23.3 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 9.8gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 2.5gm.

Mridula: It gives an average yield of 3.31 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 3.6gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.4gm.

Madakkathara-1: It gives an average yield of 13.8 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 6.2gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.6gm.

Madakkathara 2: It gives an average yield of 17 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 7.3gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 2.0gm.

K 221: It gives an average yield of 13.2 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 6.2gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.6gm.

Vengurla 1: It gives an average yield of 19 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 6.2gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.9gm.

Vengurla 2: It gives an average yield of 24 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 4.3gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.4gm.

VRI 1: It gives an average yield of 7.2 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 5.0gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.4gm.

VRI 2: It gives an average yield of 7.4 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 5.1gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.4gm.

VRI 3: It gives an average yield of 10 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 7.2gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 2.1gm.

Well prepared and leveled land is required for cashew farming. Land should be prepared prior to the onset of monsoon season.

Time of sowing:
Sowing is done in May month.

Spacing:
In infertile soil, use spacing of 7.5m X 7.5m and in fertile deep soil, use spacing of 10m X 10m.

Seed rate:
Planting of 250 grafted plants for per acre land is used.

Seed treatment:
Before sowing seeds are sown in water for 18-24 hours to increase germination percentage.
 

Nutrient Requirement (gm/tree)

Application of nitrogen@750gm/tree, phosphorus@325gm/tree and potash@750gm/tree should be added to get better yield.
 

For this crop drip irrigation is an optimum process. To increase the yield of cashew, 200ltr water per tree per fortnight is given.

According to the growth intensity of weed, weeding is done through hands or chemical ways in June-July and September-October month. Application of Paraquat@160gm/acre is done in start of July and then at the intervals of 2 months or glyphosate@350gm/acre in the month of June-July.

• Pest and their control:

Bugs: It is one of the major pests found in cashew. It sucks the juice of the soft plants which will lead to small leaves and dried flowering part.

Treatment: Spraying of Carbaryl@800gm or Quinalphos@400ml should be done in the month of October-November (during shoot development) and then in December-January (during flower bud development) and then in January-February (during fruits development).

Stem and root borer: The pest laid eggs on loose bark of the plant. The infected leaves turn yellow and branches get dried.

Treatment: Spraying of carbaryl@800gm should be done to get rid of bugs.
 

Leaf miner: It harms the soft branches of the plant after monsoon. It makes blister on the peel which ultimately dries and there holes are formed.

Treatment: Spraying of Carbaryl@800gm or Quinalphos@400ml should be done to get rid of leaf miner.

Leaf and flower webber: It makes the trap of the leaf and flower and then by living in the trap it eats the plant.

Treatment: Spraying of Carbaryl@800gm or Quinalphos@400ml should be done to get rid of leaf and flower webber.
 
 

• Disease and their control:
  

Pink disease: After its infection, white color spots are seen on the branches. The branches start drying from top.

Treatment: Spraying of Bordo mixture @1% is done in the month of May-June and October month.
 

Harvesting is started after 3 years of planting and in 10th year tree attain its full yield. It gives continuously yield after next 20 years. Fruits are hand plucked and separated from the peel and then they are sun dried for 2-3 days. After drying they are stored. It gives an average yield of 3kg per tree per year.