Economics of Cashew Processing Technology in India

The by-products of cashew viz., cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), shell cake, testa and cashew apples are commercially exploitable. The method of processing technology affects the outturn, quality of the output, health of the workers, quality of by-products and the cost of production. The adoption of appropriate methods of processing technology can bring efficiency in the form of higher outturn, better quality kernels and cashew nut shell liquid. To use these by-products economically and to create awareness on the business opportunities in cashew processing, the present study attempts to find out the economic feasibility of cashew nut and oil (CNSL). The overall cost of production of kernels has been found to be Rs. 4784.11 and 4616.63 per quintal of raw nuts processed in steaming and drum roasting methods, respectively. The cost of raw material has been the major component in the cost of production of kernels, constituting 86.64 and 86.86% of the total cost of production of kernels in steaming method and drum roasting methods, respectively. The total sale proceeds from the sale of cashew kernels, shells and testa have been Rs. 5347.53 and the profit per quintal of raw nuts processed has been Rs. 563.43 in the steaming method, whereas in the drum roasting method the total sale proceeds has been Rs. 4693.62 and the profit per quintal of raw nut has been Rs. 76.99. Thus it is concluded that the steam processing method realized better returns than drum roasting method due to the adoption of latest technology in the cashew processing methods in India. Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), a by-product of the cashew industry has always been credited with words such as 'versatile raw material'. The two methods of extraction of CNSL viz., kiln method and expeller method are adopted by farmers/processors. The BCR and IRR analysis worked out to 1.13 and 41.2% in kiln method, whereas, they have been 1.15 and 45.27% in expeller method. The solutions to the problems confronting cashew nut processing lies in intensifying research in order to develop cost-effective, eco-friendly technology to boost efficiency and productivity and to reduce costs of processing.