Andhra Predesh has an area about 46,913 hectares under cashew with annual production of 12,500 M.T . of raw nuts. Important cashew growing districts in A.P. are Guntur, Krishna. East and West Godavari, Srikakulam, Vishakhapatnam, Nellore and Prakasam.

CLIMATE

It requires a warm humid climate, with a minimum of 600mm rainfall, but well distributed rainfall is more important. Cashew thrives under a wide range of temperatures from 15 to 40 degrees centigrade. Cashew does not grow well in areas subject to frost and cold waves. It is also drought resistant.

SOILS

It has a high degree of adaptability and can be raised on any soil free from rocky strata or hard pan and water stagnation. The best soils for cashew are deep friable, welldrained sandy loam soils. Hilly slopes up to an elevation of 700 m above mean scale level can also be utilized for cashew cultivation.

Varieties

The following improved varieties have been released for commercial cultivation from the Cashew Research Station, Bapatla.

BPP.1(H2/11)

A hybrid between tree No.1 and 273 of Cashew Research Station , Bapatla produces 15% bisexual flowers. Nuts are medium in size weighing about 5 g. With a shelling percentage of 26. It yields on an average about 12 kg of raw nuts per tree per year.

BPP.2(H 2/ 12)

This is another hybrid obtained from the same above parentage. Produces about 8% bisexual flowers. However the nuts are smaller, weighing about 4 g with a shelling percentage of 26. On an average, it yields about 15 kg of raw nuts per year.

BPP 3 (SCH 3/3)

It is moderate sized tree. A late bearer with about 15% bisexual flowers. The nuts are of medium size (5 g) with shelling percentage of 25. It also yields about 15 kg or raw nuts on an average per year.

BPP. 4 (EPM 9/8)

This is a vigorous growing tree and produces about 8% bisexual flowers. On an average it gives an yields of about 10 kg per annum.

BPP.5(TR.NO.1)

Highly intensive branching type tree. It produces about 10% bisexual flowers and is a prolific yielder. The nuts are medium in size (5g) with a shelling percentage of 25. It has given an average yield of 42 kg per year at an age of 40 years.

BPP.6(TR .NO.56)

It is a vigorous and yielder. It produces about 8% perfect flowers. Nuts are of medium size 96g) with a shelling percentage of 26. At an age of 40 years, it has given an average yield of 57 kg per year.

Propagation

Cashew is commercially propagated by seed only. Vegetative propagation through air layering, side grafting, veneer grafting and epicotyle grafting is also possible. Planting material should be collected only from trees possessing all the desirable higher percentage of bisexual flowers, good fruit set, medium sized nut and high yielding capacity of 15-25 years old. Collected seed should be sun dried for 2 or 3 days for seed purpose.

After soaking the seed nuts for about 48 hours in water into hasten germination, they may be sown either insitu or in alkathene bags (25 x 15 cm) filled with garden soil mixed with stalk end up in tilted position. Generally 2-3 seeds are dibbled at the permanent site in pits (60cm x 60cm x60cm) depending upon the topography and fertility of the soil. Germination is completed within a month. One month after germination a single healthy and vigorous sedings is retained in the pit while the rest are removed . Seedling raised in alakathene bags, may be transplanted when they are about 2 months old, without causing any disturbance to the root system during monsoon rains.
Generally the plants are raised in square system of layout.

Preparation of Land

If the selected site is a jungle area, all the vegetation on the site has to be cleared. If the land undulating, bunding and terracing are done to check soil erosion. Then the land is ploughed on both ways to uproot the stumps, stubbles, which are removed promptly. Finally the land is levelled.

After care

For the first two or three years , regular watering is necessary for the better establishment of the young seedlings. The young seedlings are stalked and protected from scorching sun in summer by providing shade with palmyra leaves and from cattle damage by fencing. The allies are ploughed to suppress weed growth. The basin of young plants may be mulched with dry leaves to conserve moisture in summer and also to suppress the weed growth in the basins.

Manures and Fertilizers

Cashew responds well to manuring. Manuring is very essential to get early and high yields in new plantations and to get regular high yields in mature plantations. The following fertilizer schedule is recommended in grams per tree.

The above fertilizers are to be applied in two split doses. The first dose may be given in July-August, while the second dose in October- November. Fertilizers are to be applied in trenches (10-15 cm deep) dug about 100-150cm away from the trunk.

Age
	1st dose (in grams)			2nd dose (in grams)
	N	P205	K20	N	P205	K20
1st Year	0	0	0	0	0	0
2nd Year	85	20	20	85	20	20
3rd Year	170	40	40	170	40	40
4th Year onwards	250	60	60	250	60	60

Plant Protection:

Name of the Pests/Diseases	Symptoms	Control measures
PESTS Stem and root borer (Kandamu Mariyu Vera Toluchu Purugu) Plocaederus Ferrugineus L.	This pest is common in old and neglected plantations. It occurs throughout the year, but more prevalent during the rainy season. The adult lays eggs in crevices and cracks of bark on the trunk. The hatched grubs bore into the bark. As a result the vascular tissues are damaged, the ascent of the plant sap is arrested, leaves turn yellow and are shed and finally the tree dies. The grubs pupates in a calcareous cocon in the soil. The symptoms of infestation include the presence of small holes in the collar region, gummosis, extrusion.	After identifying the infested tree, the bark is peeled, the grubs are removed and destroyed. After the removal of the grubs, the peeled portion of the bark is smeared with Bordeaux paste. As a prophylactic measure, the orchard should be kept clean and the soil around the trunk should be mixed with 5% carbaryl dust before the onset of monsoon rains.
Leaf and Blossom webber (Aaku Mariyu Putha Mudutha purugu) Macalla moncusalis W	This is a major pest in the state, appearing regularly throughout the year particularly at the time of emergence of new flush. Generally young trees suffer more. The adult moth lays eggs at the growing point. The caterpillar on emergence webs the terminal leaves as well as panicles and feeds inside by scrapping the epidermal layers. The pest can be identified by such webs on the plants. As result flowers fail to open and there will be no crop. It also feeds on tender, developing nuts and apples by scrapping the epidermal nuts and applets by scrapping the epidermal layers, which drop prematurely.	Since the pest is out of reach in the webs, it is better, first to disturb the webs, machanically and then spray the chemical. Quinalphos 0.5% or Endosulfan 0.07% 2ml/lt of water.
Leaf minor (Aaku Toluchu Purugu) Acrocerops Syngramma M.	This pest appears regularly at the time of emergence of new flush. The caterpillars mine into the young and developing leaves and cause blisters on the leaves and feed on the tissues.	The pest can controlled by spraying Phosphomidon 0.05% 0.5 ml/l or Fenitrothion 0.05% I ml/l or Endosulfan 0.07% 2ml/l concentration at the time of emergence of new flush.
Shoot and infloresence tip borer (Komma Mariyu Putha Chivaralanu Toluchu Purugu) Chelaria haligramma M.	The pest appears throughout the years, particularly at time of flowering and fruiting. Caterpillar feeds on leaves, tender shoots, inflorescence stalks, apples and nuts, At the time of new flush the caterpillar folds the tender leaves from one margin and feeds inside. Then it enters the tender shoots by feeds a hole at the tip and feeds inside, causing drying of twigs and particles. At fruiting, the larva enters the fruit at the joint of the apple and nut and feeds inside, causing premature fruit drop.	Fenitrothion 0.05% 1 ml/l or Endosulfan 0.07% 1 ml/l when sprayed twice, one at the time of new flush and next at the time of fruiting, effectively control the pest.
Apple and nut borer (Apple Mariyu Kaya Toluchu Purugu) Nephopteryx sp.	This pest causes direct loss to the crop. It appears at the time of fruting. The larvae bore into either apple or nut at the joint and feed inside. As a result the development of Kernel is arrested, the nuts get shrivelled, apples get hallowed and shrivelled and they drop prematurely. As the caterpillars reside for the chemicals. As such preventive measures are more important. Note: There are no serious diseases on cashew	It is advisable to give prophylactic spray at the time of full bloom or fruit set with Endosulfan 0.07% or Phosphomidon 0.05% 0.5 ml/l of water.

Intercroping

Cashew gardens are inter cropped during the initial years only. In forest plantations legumes like ground nut or horsegram are raised as inter crops. In other gardens, vegetables, tobacco and chillies nurseries are raised. However, legumes as inter crops are more beneficial to cashew.

Harvesting

Seeding cashew trees normally come to bearing in 3-5 years after 7 th year and by 10 th year yields will be stabilized.

Cashew flowers in January-February in A.P. Harvesting commences from April and ends May-June. The nuts take 45-60 days to mature. Generally, the fallen fruits are gathered from below the tree and the nuts are separated from the apple.

The separated nuts are dried for 2-3 days to bring the moisture content down to 10-12 % and stored in tins or gunny bags.

The tree yields in cashew vary very widely. An ideal cashew tree should give an yield of 20 kg raw nuts per tree per year. However, majority of the trees yield 2 to 3 kg per tree in the existing plantations.

Uses

Cashew nut is the most versatile of all nuts. The kernels are rich in nutrients and are put to use in a variety of ways. The kernels are used in cocktail parties, in confectioneries. They are mostly salted. The kernels are low in carbohydrates. They are mostly salted. The kernels are low in carbohydrates but rich in proteins, fats and vitamins.

The kernel oil is reported to be superior to olive oil and almond oil.

The testa of the kernel is rich in tannins and hence mainly uses in leather industry. It is also used as poultry feed.

The cashew nutshell liquid extracted form the hard shell. It is a by-product of the cashew industry. It is a versatile industrial raw material being used in preparation of resins, varnishes, paints, plastics, insecticides, brake linings, wood preservatives etc.

The brightly colored, swollen peduncle of cashew fruits is cashew apple. The apple is fleshy, juicy and is rich in vitamin C. However, at present most of the produce is not at all utilised. From cashew apple, tasty drinks can be prepared mixing with juice of lime, pineapple, grapes, etc., jam, chutney and pickles can also be prepared out of cashew apple. Liquor can also be prepared.