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Production of Raw Cashew Nuts in Kerala (2014-15 to 2022-23): Area (Hectares) and Yield (MT)


Analysis:

Area Under Cashew Cultivation:
•    Steady Increase: The area under cultivation has steadily increased from 84.5 thousand hectares in 2014-15 to 108.59 thousand hectares in 2022-23. This represents a continuous effort to expand the land devoted to cashew farming.
•    Highest Growth: The highest annual growth in area was 4.5% in 2016-17, with notable growth in subsequent years, such as 4.4% in 2020-21.
•    Stabilization: In the most recent year (2022-23), the growth in area slows to 1.9%, suggesting that expansion may be stabilizing.
Cashew Production (Quantity in Metric Tons):
•    Volatility in Production: Unlike the steady increase in area, the quantity of cashews produced is more volatile. There was a sharp decline in production in 2015-16, with a 10% drop from the previous year, despite an increase in area. The highest growth in production occurred in 2016-17, with a 16.6% increase. Other declines in production occurred in 2018-19 (-6%), 2019-20 (-16%), and 2021-22 (-1.8%).
•    Recent Recovery: In the latest data for 2022-23, production shows positive growth at 4%, reaching 74,630 metric tons. However, this remains lower than the peak of 88,180 metric tons in 2017-18.

Conclusions:

•    Potential Yield Challenges: The discrepancy between the growing area and fluctuating production suggests potential issues with yield, which could be impacted by climate conditions, farming practices, or market demand.
•    Focus on Sustainability: While area expansion is promising, there should be a focus on improving yield per hectare, given the inconsistency in production growth.
•    Positive Signs of Recovery: The recent growth in production (2020-23) is a good sign, but efforts to stabilize and further increase yields are necessary for more sustainable growth in cashew production.