Whalesbook
Government ne Union Budget 2026-27 mein high-value agriculture ke liye ₹350 crore ka support announce kiya hai, jisme cashew ko bhi focus area mein rakha hai taaki farmers ki income badhe. ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research jaise bodies bhi cashew apple se juice, jam, powder banane ke liye push kar rahe hain. Koshish hai ki farmers ke liye income ke naye raaste banayein.
Asal mein, India har saal around 6 million tonnes cashew apples produce karta hai, lekin sirf 10% hi use hota hai, mostly feni banane ke liye. Compare karo Brazil se, woh log 25% tak cashew apples ko juice aur items mein process karte hain. Cashew apples mein Vitamin C, minerals, aur antioxidants bharpoor hain, jo immunity badhane aur diabetes mein help kar sakte hain. Lekin itna faydemand hone ke baad bhi, desh mein lagbhag 95% Indians ne iska juice try hi nahi kiya hai.
Sabse bada hurdle hai consumer awareness ki kami. Research labs mein taiyaar products bahar market mein aa hi nahi pa rahe. Surveys batati hain ki 68% urban shoppers ne kabhi cashew apple drink dekha hi nahi. March 2024 mein FSSAI ne provisional license diya, jisse mass production aur slow ho gaya. Science aur market ke beech mein yeh gap bahut bada hai.
Overall dekha jaaye toh India mein fruit aur vegetable processing rate 3% se bhi kam hai, jabki China mein 23% aur USA mein 65% hai. Brazil, jo cashew apples ka 12% process karta hai aur 8% juice banata hai, woh commercial side par aage hai.
Government support toh hai, jaise budget mein allocation aur 'Cashew Apple to Market' campaign. Par practical issues bhi hain. Fruit jaldi kharab ho jata hai, isliye acchi cold-chain logistics chahiye, jo farmers ke paas nahi hai. Processing karna padta hai taste theek karne ke liye, aur seasonal availability ke liye storage bhi chahiye. Sabse mushkil hai ki isse already established fruit juices aur healthy drinks se compete karna padega, jiske liye branding aur marketing mein tagda paisa lagana hoga.
Research itna ho raha hai, par farmers aur businesses tak woh technology pahunch hi nahi pa rahi. Industry imported raw cashew nuts par depend karti hai aur chhote facilities mein outdated technology use hoti hai. Is juice ko crowded market mein popular karna mushkil hai. Iski perishability aur seasonality ki wajah se supply chain mein risk hai, jiske liye costly storage aur preservation mein investment chahiye jo chhote farmers nahi kar sakte. Plus, Budget 2026-27 mein high-value crops par focus hai, par fruits aur vegetables ko omit kar diya hai, jo agri GDP ka bada hissa hain.
Is potential ko unlock karne ke liye sabko milkar kaam karna hoga. Research aur market ke beech ka gap bharna hoga, cold-chain infrastructure mein invest karna hoga, aur affordable preservation methods banane honge. Cooperatives, self-help groups, companies, sabko organized processing, packaging, branding aur distribution par kaam karna hoga. Aur sabse important, consumer ko batana hoga ki yeh juice kitna healthy aur tasty hai, taaki demand badhe.