Value chain traceability of Indian cashew

Cashew nut is a valuable commodity in international trade and source of foreign exchange. India is the world’s largest cashew processor and exporter, being the world’s cashew economy’s leader in raw nut processing, it is the largest supplier of cashew kernels. India being the big importer of raw cashew nut and exporter of cashew kernels, it is crucial to look into the value chain traceability. The results of value chain traceability have shown that among Five values chain the marketing margin was high (Rs. 307/kg) for value chain V, where the processor benefitted by importing raw cashew nut from African countries at low price with good quality. Farmers share in consumer rupee was found to be higher in value chain I because of less intermediaries whose market margin was Rs. 238/kg. Value chain III had market margin of Rs. 240/kg followed by value chain IV and value chain II with market margin of Rs. 245/kg and Rs. 250/kg, respectively. Trade agreements with African countries will help the processor while domestic farmers must be provided with good senile material and appropriate cultivation method to increase the productivity. Waste land should be converted to cashew area to become self-dependent in processing.