A Study On Cashew Nut Production Marketing and Consumer Behaviour In South Odisha

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlineIndian cashew nuts are the second most exported and produced in the world, but India is not as productive as other top cashew-producing countries. Indian cashew plantations yield significantly less per hectare compared to other cashew-producing nations like Vietnam and Brazil. Factors contributing to Odisha s lower productivity include the prevalence of ageing trees, limited access to high-yielding varieties, traditional farming methods, inadequate extension services, inadequate market infrastructure, and financial constraints faced by farmers. A study was therefore designed to study the cashew nut production, marketing, and consumer behaviour in South Odisha. . newlineThe districts of Gajapati and Rayagada were selected purposefully because farmers here grow cashews on a commercial basis, irrespective of their holding size, and are growing cashew for better income generation. Rayagada and Gosani blocks in Gajapati, as well as Gunupur and Ramnaguda blocks in Rayagada districts, were selected purposefully on the basis of volume of production. A stratified random sampling technique was followed in selecting 220 respondents from 16 villages, i.e., four from each selected block. Statistical tools such as percentile analysis, Garett s rank, Chow s F test, chi-square test, internal rate of return, benefit cost ratio, net present value, Cobb-Douglas regression, and Kolomogorov-Smirnov test were employed in the analysis of the data. newlineCashew cultivation attracts farmers of all ages and education levels, emphasising the need for sufficient exposure and training to develop knowledge and skills. The majority of cashew cultivation in India is dry farming, heavily dependent on rainfall. Most farmers use fertilisers, predominantly inorganic ones. Farmers rarely use crop insurance, and the Horticulture Department primarily assists them by providing seedlings and pest management advice. Large farms incur higher cultivation costs, but they also achieve higher yields and profits than small farms. Investment in cashew plantations