PANJIM: Cashew farmers in Goa are literally going nuts as a long hard summer brings in its wake a bagful of woes.
The cashew business is facing a downturn due to multiple factors ranging from the vagaries of the weather, pests, forest fires, lack of administrative foresight and absence of a definitive cashew policy. The once-thriving industry which is the pride of Goa is also a victim of rising labour costs.
This has had a heavy impact on production of Goa’s famed drinks —Feni and Urrack and producers are feeling the burden of these adversities. Though the demand for cashew apples, Feni and Urrack remains high, yet the profitability is dwindling due to a combination of factors.
Clita Fernandes, a cashew farmer from Arambol said that this business has been going on for many years and due to all the factors such as climate change and low profit, people have stopped doing this business. “If we want to preserve our tradition and pass on this unique method of distillation to the next generation, then the government has to give us a helping hand,” she said.
Precioso Soares, a cashew grower-cum-distiller from Loutolim said, “This year the T-Mosquito has destroyed a major part of his plantation. The mosquito sits on the new shoots and destroys them. Spraying pesticide this time did not have much effect. The cashews flower late in South Goa, so I will have to wait till mid-April to see the total production. But definitely the crop is less. We hope that with the second flowering, production will go up.”
Regarding government support, he said, the subsidy for 2023 has not been received. “While Goan cashew nuts are exported, the government has to stop the flooding of Goan market with import of outside cashew nuts which are cheap,” Soares urged.
Ruzai Fernandes, a local cashew distiller from Arambol demanded better prices for cashew beverages and good subsidies to preserve Goa’s traditional method of making Feni and Urrack which is time consuming and tedious. "I have difficulties in continuing this traditional business of making Feni and Urrack, due to the low market price. I'm also concerned over the decreased yield of cashews due to the unpredictable weather."
Hansel Vaz, Founder of Cazulo Premium Feni said, 2022 was the worst year for cashew production. This year the flowers are delayed by two months. The increase in heat may burn the flowers. We are awaiting the second flowering to give better fruit, he said. “Except for chairperson of Goa Forest Development Corporation Deviya Rane, what are the Agriculture Department and the ICAR doing? The Agriculture Department should warn the farmers in advance about vagaries of the weather. The ICAR is making grafts for the last 40 years. How are the grafts facing up to climate change? Have the ICAR scientists studied this?
“We distributed 1,000 cashew saplings of the Bali (Goan) variety. Every year at least one lakh Goan saplings should be planted. The ICAR and private nurseries are promoting Vengurla varieties, which is worst for making Feni. Goan varieties have bigger nuts and give more juice," Hansel Vaz said.
“Where is the accountability of the ICAR scientists? What is the policy to promote Goan cashews to build the industry? Why is Goan production less that national average?” he asked.
Mac Vaz, Founder President of Cashew Feni Distillers and Bottlers Association said, “The cashew crop which depends on vagaries of the weather has been badly affected. The good news is that the second stage flowering maybe better. There is need to promote the government schemes among the farmers and improve the system of production so that there is no attempt to compromise on the traditional Urrack and Feni production system to cut costs.”
“The government has to ensure that Goan Feni which is banned in many States of India is allowed to be sold there. It is Atmanirbhar, it is Swadeshi. The government has to support Feni for which we have fought hard to get the GI tag.” Mac Vaz said.
Neville Alphonso, Director of Agriculture said, “This year the cashew flowering in some parts of Goa such as Salcete, Sanguem and Canacona has been delayed. This is because the flowering starts four months after the rains. This year there were rains in November, hence the delay. We are hoping that the second flowering in April and May will be better.”