Cashew industry in Kerala; A study on the background of recent crisis

Cashew industry in Kerala is one of the traditional industries of our country which provide livelihood for around 1.5 lakh women from low income families. This sector plays a prominent role in export earnings and rural development. Nowadays majority of the cashew processing units are operating under multiple constraints. Kollam district, ‘cashew capital of Kerala’ has been facing a severe crisis as 90% of the processing units have shut down and the laboures left unemployed. The major objectives of the study are to examine the present scenario of the sector and to identify the reasons for the present crisis. The paper also brings out some suggestion for recovering the sector. It emphasizes the need for urgent government intervention and policy measures.