Growth, instability and price behavior of raw cashew nut and cashew kernel prices in India

The objective of the present study was to examine the price behavior of Raw Cashew nut and Cashew Kernel in India . The reference period for secondary data collected for this study pertains to the period from 2011-12 to 2020-21. Compound growth rates, Coefficient of variation, Cuddy and Della's instability index and index numbers were used as statistical tools for this study. The compound growth rate and instability index of prices of raw cashew nut in Indian market were 33.04 per cent and 7.76 respectively. The compound growth rate and instability index of prices of Indian cashew kernel was 16.59 per cent and 6.60 respectively. Seasonal index number for Cashew kernel was almost the same (99.32) during the months from April to August and February to March and shows increasing values from September to January months and concluded that prices were low during harvest period of Cashew and it was higher in the off-season months. The index numbers of raw cashew nut prices, export prices for cashew kernel and import prices for raw cashew nut show fluctuating trend and did not exhibit any clear-cut trend values except raw cashew nut prices which showed upward trend. The study recommends that Indian government must double cashew production by increasing cashew area, production and productivity of Cashew, minimum raw cashew nut prices to farmers, export incentives (transport assistance) for exports of cashew kernel should be continued and duty-free import of raw cashew-nuts should be continued from least developed African countries.