Sri Lanka to encourage cashew cultivation, consumption

Sept 06, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has started a programme to encourage the cultivation and consumption of cashew nuts, saying it is good for health and has a good export potential. "Cashew is a crop that will help eradicate poverty as it grows in difficult areas and is easy to grow, not needing much care and maintenance," said Priyanath Piyadasa, deputy chairman of the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation Thursday.

"Therefore it is an ideal crop for the dry zone and also for poor farmers to grow."

However, the island's cultivation, yields and exports were much below that of other producer countries, officials said at the launch of the scheme to promote cultivation and consumption of cashew.

Three new varieties of cashew, developed after experiments conducted by the University of Wayamba, were launched at the event.

These are to be distributed among growers to increase cashew cultivation and production with the aim of increasing its consumption and export.

Piyadasa said the cultivation of cashew has lagged behind that of other crops like tea and rubber because it has not been given the same kind of incentives.

The corporation was working to popularise the ne