Here is an essay on ‘Cashew-Nut’ for class 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on ‘Cashew-Nut’ especially written for school and college students.
Essay on Cashew-Nut
Essay Contents:
- Essay on the Origin and History of Cashew-Nut
- Essay on the Area and Production of Cashew-Nut
- Essay on the Importance and Uses of Cashew-Nut
- Essay on the Choice of Varieties of Cashew-Nut
- Essay on the Insect-Pests of Cashew-Nut
- Essay on the Diseases of Cashew-Nut
- Essay on the Disorders of Cashew-Nut
Essay # 1. Origin and History of Cashew-Nut:
Cashew-nut (Anacardium occidentale Linn) is an important tropical tree crops. It ranks second in international trade amongst the major edible nuts. During the past two decades cashew-nut gained the status of a horticultural crop. India is one of the world’s largest producers of cashew-nut.
Cashew-nut is believed to be a native of Brazil and dispersed from here to many of the tropical areas. It is reported that cashew-nut was introduced in the Malabar Coast of India in the 16th century by the Portuguese. The Malabar Coast probably served as a locus of dispersal to other centres in India and South-East Asia. From, India, it was carried eastward to Amboina in Indonesia.
The dispersal of the species to South-East Asia appears to have been carried out by birds, bats, monkeys and human agents. The different names of cashew in Indian languages are derived from the Portuguese name Caju which in turn originated from Acaju, the name given to cashew by the Tapi Indians of Brazil.
Major cashew-nut producing countries are Viet Nam, Nigeria, India, Cote d’ Ivoire, and Brazil.
Essay # 2. Area and Production of Cashew-Nut:
Basically, cashew-nut is considered as a waste land crop grown for afforestation and soil conservation purposes. The majority of the area, 9.79 lakh ha at present, available in India is covered with non-descript genetically inferior seedling progenies which has resulted in average productivity of around 695 kg per ha as against the national target of one tonne per ha. Viet Nam and Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cashew-nuts. India rank third in production followed by Cote d’lvoire and Brazil.
The other cashew nuts producing countries are Indonesia, Philippines, Indonesia, Guinea – Bissau, Tanzania and Benin. The total world production of cashew nuts is estimated 27 lakh metric tonnes with average yield of 0.6 mt per hectare. However, Peru has the highest production yields of 5.3 mt cashew nuts per hectare.
India is producing cashew-nuts about 16 per cent of the world production. Maharashtra is the leading cashew-nut producing state in India accounting for 32 per cent of total production and 19 per cent of total area with highest productivity in the country. The other major cashew-nut producing states in India are Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and West Bengal.
At present the total area under in India is 9.79 lakh hectares with annual production of 7.25 lakhs mt. The average productivity of cashew-nut in India is 700 kg per hectare. Andhra Pradesh is the second largest producer of cashew-nut in India and has an increasing trend in production. This state has 16 per cent of area and contributes 16 per cent of total production.
Kerala which has 7.8 per cent of the area contributes 10.8 per cent of the nut production. Among the states Odisha contributes about 14.0 per cent of the nut production, while the production from other states is less than 10 per cent. This is achieved only because the majority of the area has been planted with recommended varieties namely V-1 and V-4 and plants are raised through vegetative means.
In Kerala, the productivity is raised nearly one tonne per ha during the recent years because the crop is grown in the homesteads and receive much better attention. However, in the East-Coast, the productivity levels are much lower mainly due to the poor soils such as degraded soils in Andhra Pradesh and sandy soils of low fertility in Orissa and completely neglected cultivation by the forest plantation in Tamil Nadu.
Export Potential:
India requires about 12-13 lakh tonnes of raw cashew-nuts to feed the large number of cashew processing units engaging over five lakh workers, especially women. Presently, India produces about 7 lakh tonnes of raw cashew-nuts annually, the balance of 6 lakh tonnes of raw cashew-nuts are imported annually from African and South East Asian countries. India is the second largest exporter of Cashew kernels in the world and exporting 1.1 lakh tonnes of cashew kernels to over 65 countries and earning about Rs. 2900 crores.
There is an ever-increasing demand for cashew kernels in International and domestic markets. Viet Nam and Brazil compete with India in International market.
Essay # 3. Importance and Uses of Cashew-Nut:
The cashew kernels are highly nutritive. They are rich source of carbohydrates, proteins, un-saturated fats, minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins. It contains fat 47%, protein 21%, carbohydrates 22%, carotein 100 I.U. per 100 g, vitamin B1 630. mg/100 g, Riboflavin 190 mg/100 g and iron 5 mg/100 g. The kernels supply 6000 calories energy per kg. The cashew apple is rich in vitamin C and contains 180 mg ascorbic acid per 100 g juice.
There are many medicinal uses of cashew apple and its juice. It is a good remedy for scurvy, cough and cold and is considered an excellent purgative. The cashew-nut shell liquid is an important raw material for a number of polymer based industries like paints and varnishes, resins, industrial and decorative laminates, brake linings and rubber compounding resins.
The wood of cashew-nut is used for fire wood and charcoal making. Its wood pulp is used to fabricate corrugated and hard board boxes. Fenny (a type of wine) is commonly prepared from cashew apple which is found very popular in Goa. The remains can be used as cattle feed.
Essay # 4. Choice of Varieties of Cashew-Nut:
The brief characteristics of some cashew-nut cultivars released in India are as follows:
1. BPP-1:
Nuts are medium-sized (5g) and the shelling percentage is 27.5. The apple is medium sized and yellow in colour with juice content of 68%. The percentage of perfect flower is about 13.2 with the fruit set of 8 fruits per panicle. The average yield is 17 kg at the age of 25 years.
2. BPP-2:
The nuts are small (4g) and shelling percentage is about 26. The percentage of bisexual flowers is 7 with the fruit set of 8 to 10 fruits per panicles. The average yield is about 19 kg at the age of 25 years.
3. BPP-3:
This is a selection from Simhachalam in Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). The average nut weight is 6 g and shelling percentage is 28. The average yield is 16 kg/tree at the age of 25 years.
4. BPP-4:
The nut weight is 6 g and shelling percentage is about 23. This plant has got distinct light pink pigmentation in younger leaves and apple colour is yellow with conical shape. The average yield is 12.5 kg/tree at the age of 17 years.
5. BPP-5:
This is a collection from Andhra Pradesh. The nut weight is 5.2 g and shelling percentage is only 24. At the time of selection of tree (50 years) the yield was 42 kg/tree/year.
6. BPP-6:
This is also a collection from Andhra Pradesh 56. The nut weight is 5.2 and shelling percentage 24. The mean yield in 50th year was 42 kg nuts per tree.
7. Vengurla-I:
This is a selection from Ansur village in Vengurla Tehsil. The nut weight was 6 g with shelling percentage of 31. At the age of 28 years the average yield was 23 kg per plant. The average perfect flowers per panicle were about 8%.
8. Vengurla-2:
This is a selection from West Bengal. The nuts are small with 4 g weight and shelling percentage 32. The average perfect flower is 8%. At the 20th year, the average yield was about 24 kg/ tree. This selection has very short flowering and fruiting phase (45 days) with pinkish red coloured apples.
9. Vengurla-3:
Hybrid between Ansur-1 x Vetore-56, the nut weight is 9 g and shelling percentage 27. The percentage of perfect flowers is 25 with the average fruit set of 7% per panicle.
10. Vengurla-4:
Hybrid between Midnapore Red x Vetore-56, the nut is also bold weighing 8 g and shelling percentage is 31. The percentage of perfect flowers was 35 and fruit set was 6.
11. Vengurla-5:
Cross between Ansur Early x Mysore Kotekar 1/61, it has medium to small sized nuts with 4-5 g weight and shelling percentage is 30. The average yield at 14th year is 21 kg. This has the highest perfect flowers (50.5%) per panicle. However, the fruit set is only 3.3%.
12. VR-1:
This is a selection from Vazhisodhanipalayam in South Arcot District of Tamil Nadu. The nuts are medium sized (5g) and give 28% shelling. Bisexual flowers are 14.6% and bear 5-7 fruits per panicle. It has late flowering habit. The mean yield at 17 years is 7.4 kg/tree.
13. VR-2:
This is a selection from Kathupalli village in Chingalpettu District of Tamil Nadu. The nut size is 5 g, shelling percentage is 28. Bisexual flowers are 10% with 5-8 fruits per bunch. The average yield at 17th year is about 6 kg/tree. It is a late flowering type.
14. Ullal-1:
This is a selection from Taliparamba in Kerala. The nut is medium to bold sized weighing 7 g and yield 31% shelling. The cultivar has yield potential of 19 kg/tree at the age of 25. Bisexual flowers are 2-3%. The fruiting season is November to mid-March. The duration of harvest is about 110 days.
15. Ullal-2:
This is a selection from Guntur (A.P.). The nut size is medium (6g) and shelling percentage is 30. It yields 18 kg/ tree after 25th year of orcharding. The percentage of bisexual flower is 7. It is a late flowering type (December to February). The duration of harvest is short i.e. 85 days.
16. Anakkayam-1:
The variety is from Cashew Research Station, Anakkayam, and Kerala. The nut weight is 6 g and shelling percentage is 28. It yields 35 kg per tree at the age of 20. It produces pinkish yellow apples. This cultivar flowers during October (early flowering) and has a short flowering duration of 25-30 days.
17. K-22-1:
This is a selection from Karnataka. The nuts are medium in size (6.2 g) and shelling is 22.7%. It gives 13.2 kg nuts from 7th to 15th year of orchard life. It flowers during December- January.
18. NDR-2-1:
Selection was made from Naduvallur in Kerala. The nuts are bold-sized (7.25 g) and shelling percentage is 26.2. The tree yields 17.1 kg nuts from its 7th to 15th year of orchard life. The flowering is during December-January.
19. BLA-39-4:
It is a selection from Bapatla. The nuts are medium sized (6.2 g) and gives shelling 26.8 per cent. It records 20 kg yield in its 15th year of orchard life. The flowering season is November-December.
Apart from above selections Goa-1, Goa-2, Madakkathara 1 and 2, BPP-8, Dhana, Kanaka, Amrutha, NRCC Selection 2, Bhoskara, Chitamani-1, Chitamani-2, Bhubaneshwar-1 and Jhargram-1 are promising cultivars grown in different states.
Essay # 5. Insect-Pests of Cashew-Nut:
1. Tea Mosquito Bug (Helopeltis Antonii):
They cause severe damage to the tender growing shoots and inflorescence of cashew trees. The adult appears at the time of emergence of new flushes and panicles. The pest population reaches its peak when trees are in full bloom. Both the adults and nymphs of the bud suck sap from the tender shoots, floral branches, tender apples and even immature nuts. The affected panicles and shoots dry up.
The pest can be controlled by spraying carbaryl at 0.15 per cent or dimethoate 0.05 per cent or Quinalphos at 0.05 per cent at the time of emergence of new flushes (October) and panicles (December – January). Spray the plants after 2 or 3 weeks depending upon the severity of infestation.
2. Leaf Miner (Acrocercops Syngramma):
It appears generally in the post-harvest and post-monsoon flushes. The caterpillars mine through the tender leaves and severely damage them.
The pest can be effectively controlled by spraying 0.05 per cent fenitrothion at the time of emergence of new flushes. Monocrotophos 36 WSC at 0.05 per cent can also be sprayed.
3. Stem and Root Borers (Plocaederus Ferrugineus):
It has capacity to kill the tree out right. The borers make holes in the collar region of the tree and the gum oozes out from the holes. It leads to yellowing and shedding of leaves. Twigs start drying and ultimately whole tree is dead. Plantations over 15 years old are often infested with this pest.
The pest can be controlled by drenching the basal trunk and the root region with 1.25 litres of lindane 20 EC in 250 litres of water per ha. Inject carbon disulphide into the tunnels and plaster them with mud.
4. Leaf and Blossom Webber (Lamida Moncusalis and Orthaga Exvinacea):
Leaf webber is a major pest in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. The caterpillars web the shoots and inflorescence together, remain inside and feed on them.
Spraying of 0.05 per cent malathion or carbaryl 50 WP 0.1 per cent at the time of emergence of new flushes immediately after the monsoon is recommended for the control of the pest.
Essay # 6. Diseases of Cashew-Nut:
1. Pink Disease or Die-Back:
The disease is caused due to fungus Corticium salmonicolor (Pellicularia salmonicolor). The disease is found common during the rainy season. Affected shoots dry up from the tip downwards. During monsoon season, a film of silky thread of mycelium develops in the branches. Later, the fungus develops a pinkish growth which represents the spore form.
Prune the affected branches below the spot of infection and destroy them. Protect the cut surface by application of Bordeaux paste. Spray with Bordeaux mixture 1 per cent in pre- monsoon i.e. May-June, and post monsoon i.e. September-October.
2. Anthracnose:
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides fungus causes the disease. The fungus enters the fruit through the stigma in the flower stage. Rainy season is favourable for the spread of the disease.
Remove the affected parts and spray the plant with 3:3:50 Bordeaux mixture. Plant thick windbreak of tall growing trees like Casuarina, Eucalyptus, Subabul, etc. The windbreak helps in preventing spread of the disease by wind-blown spores.
3. Damping Off of Seedlings:
Different fungi like Fusarium sp, Pythinm sp., Phytophthora palmivora and Cylindrocladium scoparium causes damping off in different areas. The disease occurs under poor drainage conditions in the nursery. The fungi attack either the root or the collar or both of the seedlings.
Excess water should be drained away from the nursery. Drench nursery beds with Ceresan 0.1 per cent or Bordeaux mixture 1 per cent.
4. Inflorescence Blight:
The inflorescence blight is caused by fungi Gloeosporium mangiferae and Phomopsis anacardii in association with tea mosquito. The disease is characterised by the drying of floral branches particularly when cloudy weather prevails
The mosquitos should be kept under control.
Essay # 7. Disorders of Cashew-Nut:
The appearance of yellow leaf spot, a possible disorder is reported in cashew perhaps due to molybdenum deficiency. The trees sprayed with 0.03% solution of ammonium molybdate once during pre-monsoon and another after cessation of monsoon was found to be effective in reviving the plants.
Little leaf is characterised by small rolled leathery leaves. Foliar spray of 0.3 per cent zinc sulphate is useful to correct the disorder.