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Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L) is an economically important tropical crop. India is the single largest producer and exporter of cashew kernels accounting for about 40 per cent of the global share. Cashew is a highly labour intensive industry in terms of both production and processing. Tamil Nadu is the sixth largest producer state of cashew nut in India. But the productivity is way behind the country's average productivity. The study was conducted to see the demographic characteristics of cashew farmers and identify the constraints faced by them in cashew cultivation and value addition. Pest and disease occurrence, high demand for labour during harvesting and unfavourable climate were the constraints faced in cultivation. Lack of adequate capital and lack of awareness on the different value addition practices were identified as the constraints in taking up value addition in cashew.
Cashew cultivation, value addition, constraints
