Research on health benefits of cashew to be expanded

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Mar 15, 2015:  In his address after inaugurating the diamond jubilee celebrations of Karnataka Cashew Manufacturers Association (KCMA) at TMA Pai International Convention Hall on  March 14, Saturday,  Minister for Health & Family Welfare U T Khader stressed on conducting open discussions and researches to expand the awareness of the health benefits of cashew which would promote the industry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He went on to say, awareness should be created that cashew is high in fat and calories and there is no harmful cholesterol in it. The role of customer is crucial in the growth of industry.  Promising to continue the government’s support to cashew industry, he said there is a need of filling the gap between cashew growers and processors. The department of agriculture and horticulture,  should work out a plan to benefit both farmers and processors. MLA J R Lobo inaugurated an exhibition of machinery to process cashew. He wanted the cashew manufacturers to produce the processing machineries locally and achieve self-sufficiency.

Growth  :  Diamond Jubilee committee Chairman Walter D’Souza recalled the growth of KCMA in last 60 years. In 1955 the number of cashew manufacturers was 15 and now it has been increased to 400, where 250 are members of KCMA.  The number of employees has shot up from 5,000 to 50,000, where 13 per cent are women. The annual business transaction has increased to Rs 2,400 crores and the amount of cashew which is being exported is more that Rs 800 crore. KCMA has more than 18 per cent market share at national-level.

"We want to raise the bar to empower farmers by stressing on value addition. There should be better productivity and we have to showcase the strengths by developing machinery. The manufacturers and farmers have to update and should give importance to generation promotion, mechanisation, e-commerce and domestic market. Cashew should be affordable to common man in the future" he added.

KCMA President Bola Rahul Kamath, Indian Ambassador to International Cashew Federation Pratap Nayar, Federation of Indian Cashew Industry President Bhoodesh, KCMA Secretaries Pramod Kamath, M Tukaram Prabhu were present a midst a large gathering.

Expo attracts : An exhibition of machinery  with the participation of around 40 companies attracted cashew growers and manufacturers. There were colour sorting machineries, drying systems, cashew peeling machines and compressors, roofing systems etc. Ganesh Kamath, Proprietor of Abhay Engineers, a cashew processing machineries company from Mangaluru, said they were in the business from past 33 years. Manufacture of bagging machine, heaper and almost all kind machines related to cashew are done. More than 1,000 users exist all over India and also over seas like, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Philippines and so on. The company supplies machineries to Anchal Cashews, leading cashew processors in the state.  Business is promoted through word of mouthr and high quality.