Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
ABSTRACT
Cashew is usually grown as a rainfed crop in ecologically sensitive areas
such as coastal belts, hilly areas and areas with high rainfall and humidity,
andhence its performance mainly depends on climate. Studies on suitabil-
ity of cashew cultivation in India using GIS showed that cashew grows
at an elevation ranging from 0 to 1000 m above MSL. However, the pro-
ductivity is the highest up to the altitude of 750 m above MSL. The aver-
age annual rainfall distribution in cashew areas ranges from low rainfall
(300-600 mm in Gujarat) to high rainfall (2700-3000 mm in west coast
and NEH region) but the productivity is highest in regions with a mean
annual rainfall distribution of 600-1500 mm. The productivity of cashew
is higher in regions where the minimum temperature ranges from 10 to
22C and is lower in regions where the minimum temperature drops be-
low 10 °C. Unseasonal rains and heavy dew during flowering and fruiting
periods are the major factors which adversely affect the nut yield. Heavy
rains at the time of harvesting affects yield and quality of nuts. Cloudy
conditions, high RH and heavy dewfall are favorable for outbreak of in-
sect pests and diseases. To circumvent losses due to climate variability/
change, adaptation and mitigation strategies are essential in affected
areas. Some of the adaptation strategies include plant architecture, use
of efficient technologies like drip irrigation, soil and moisture con-
servations measures, fertilizer management through fertigation, green
manuring/intercropping, increase in input efficiency, pre and post-
harvest management of economic produce cannot only minimize the
losses but also increase the positive impacts of climate change. The
flowering, fruiting, insect pest incidence in cashew crop, yield and qual-
ity of cashew nut and kernels are more vulnerable attributes for climate
change. The sea water level rise due to the melting of glaciers as a result
of increase in temperature may also pose problem for cashew cultivation
since large proportion of cashew plantations exist in Eastern and Western
Coastal regions of India. The perennial cashew crop has potential for car-
bon sequestration for mitigation of climate change.
6.1 INTRODUCTION
Cashew (
Anacardium occidentale
L) is a very important horticultural crop
of India, which was introduced by Portuguese travelers in sixteenth
