Project Background:
Cashew nuts are rich source of the vitamins of the B group and minerals such as magnesium, manganese, zinc, phosphorus and copper. They also contain high level of monounsaturated-fatty acids, which are beneficial for the human health. The cashew nut is served as a snack or used in recipes, like other nuts, although it is actually a seed. The cashew apple is a fruit, whose pulp can be processed into a sweet, astringent fruit drink or distilled into liqueur.
According to the Directorate of Cashew and Cocoa Development India, as of March 2020, more than 3,900 processing units are functioning in India under the organized and unorganized sectors, with a cashew processing capacity of 16.43 lakh MT per year. The plain/salted cashews segment accounts for major share in the processed cashew market, as the majority of Indian consumers are engaged in the habit of consuming cashews de-skinned in plain or salted form.
Raw Materials:
- Cashew
Plant Specifications:
- Plant capacity: 600 ton (output) per annum.
- Days operational – 300 days
- Hours operational – 20 hours
- Approximate area – 0.75 acres
- Approximate project cost – Rs. 6-8 crores
Market Share:
India is the leading country in the world in cashew production having an area of 1,050 thousand HA and with a production 800,000 MT. Cultivation of cashew in India is confined mainly to the peninsular areas. It is grown in Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, along the west coast of the country and in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal along the east coast of the country. To a limited extent, it is being cultivated in Chhattisgarh, North Eastern States (Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland) and on Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The world cashew kernel production, led by Vietnam and India, grew at a CAGR of 4% over the last five years. The world production has grown to 3100 thousand MT in FY2020 up from 2600 thousand MT in FY2013. This has been driven primarily by an increase in lifestyle and consumption in countries such as India, Europe, North America and China. India contributes to 30% of the world production followed by Ivory Coast with 21% production share.