7. INTEGRATED PRODUCTION PRACTICES OF CASHEW IN THE PHILIPPINES - Concepcion A.E. Magboo[7]

1. INTRODUCTION

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.), locally known as ‘kasoy’, is one of the most important nut crops in the Philippines. It is a versatile crop with many economic uses in the food industry as food and feed. Presently, only the nut is given attention by cashew growers as it commands a good demand in the market among domestic consumers. In addition, cashew nut is exported to Europe and other Asian countries. In 1995, the Philippines exported 1,124 tons of raw and processed nuts valued at US $ 879,573; India was the major buyer (64 %) of raw nuts, and France in the form of processed and preserved nuts (Table 1).

During the same year, the country imported 48.92 tons of cashew nuts amounting to an FOB value of US$ 199,345 (Table 2). The raw nut requirement was mainly supplied by Singapore; the processed kernels and preserved products came from Singapore (47 %), USA (27 %), and Taiwan (17 %). Cashew has a high potential for commercial cultivation as there is a steady demand for nutritious food items and an expanding market for processed and other value added cashew-based products.

2. CURRENT STATUS OF CASHEW PRODUCTION

Cashew is grown in most regions of the country mainly as a backyard crop or as a component of many small-scale diversified orchards. Palawan is the leading production center where more than 90 percent of the 2.6 million bearing trees are found. Other important areas are Llocos Region, Central Luzon, Northern Mindanao and Western Visayas.

In these areas, most of the bearing trees are of local origin. However, for new plantings, predominantly in Palawan, the recommended superior varieties such as Mitra, Recto and Fernandez have been used (Table 3).

Table 1. Philippines Exports of Cashew, 1995

Country		Volume (kg)	FOB Value (US$)
1. Cashew nuts (fresh/dried) - shelled/peeled		1,122,428	865,627
	China	262,000	231,750
	Hongkong	100,000	69,720
	India	760,428	564,197
2. Cashew nuts - processed/preserved		1,946	13,846
	Canada	180	782
	Taiwan	147	2,063
	France	787	6,037
	TTP	767	4,470
	Others	65	494

Source: Foreign Trade Statistics, 1995

Country		Volume (kg)	FOB Value (US$)
1. Cashew nuts (fresh/dried - shelled/peeled		3,088	23,262
	Republic of China	1,145	1,071
	Singapore	1,943	22,191
2. Cashew nuts - processed/preserved		45,841	176,083
	Republic of China	26,886	34,621
	Hongkong	1,140	4,685
	Singapore	9,916	83,161
	USA	7,899	53,616

Source: Foreign Trade Statistics, 1995

Variety	Apple Weight (g)	Nut Weight (g)	Kernel Weight (g)	Kernel Recovery (%)	Total Soluble Solids (%)	Average Prod. Per Tree (kg)*	Apple Colour
Mitra	146.39	13.43	3.74	27.84	13.08	9.67	orange
Fernandez	117.48	11.93	2.94	24.64	13.28	6.90	orange
CIG	129.00	12.78	3.55	27.77	15.84	7.38	orange
Callwag	79.48	11.71	3.10	26.47	13.88	7.02	yellow/ orange
Recto	70.22	10.13	2.96	29.22	12.36	7.93	red/ orange

Source: Cashew Varieties, STARRDEC Leaflet, 1996

* Seven-year-old trees

Propagation of cashew in the Philippines is either from seed or through cleft grafting. Most of the existing cashew orchards were established using seed from selected mother trees of superior performance. With the initiation of a government program for establishment of scion groves using recommended varieties, the importance of planting grafted plants has been emphasized to cashew farmers.

At present, the recommended varieties are being propagated in government nurseries in Palawan, Rizal and Romblon, DA - Region VI, the Western Luzon Agriculture College (WLAC) and the University of the Philippines - Los Banos (UPLB). Most of the plants are grafted using the stocks of any variety with scions from the recommended varieties.

4. ESTABLISHMENT OF CASHEW PLANTATIONS

As in the case of other perennial crops, land preparation is carried out in the conventional way by cashew farmers. After clearing the land, staking is done at spacings ranging from 5 to 10 meters depending on the preference of each farmer who may use the land for other inter-crops while the young cashew is being established. The square system of planting is usually practiced since it is easy to layout and allows sufficient space for other crops. Farmers are aware that land clearing and preparation can be conveniently done during the dry season before the onset of the rainy season.

5. CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF CASHEW ORCHARDS

While cashew plants are still small, inter-cropping with annual crops contributes to the effective management of the land. Very few farmers apply manure or fertilizer directly to the cashew crop. However, for new plantings using recommended varieties, farmers are beginning to realize that the potential yield of a good variety can be attained only through proper management practices such as weeding, fertilizer application etc. Owners of large cashew plantations practice pruning, especially when it is evident that compact canopies and clean culture minimizes pest infestation.

Many insect pests attack the cashew at all the growth stages. The most common insect pests are termites, leaf miner, twig and root borers and the tea mosquito. The plant diseases commonly found in cashew are anthracnose, especially when intermittent rains occur during the flowering and fruiting stages. Other diseases are damping off and root rot of seedlings. Farmers who own large plantations seldom apply any chemical control measures except at the nursery stage. Some control is brought about by under brushing cashew orchards at the onset of flowering which helps to eliminate alternate hosts that harbor pests.

6. REPLANTING AND/OR REJUVENATION

Replanting is practiced by cashew farmers in Palawan. However, very few farmers do rejuvenation of old orchards.

7. HARVESTING OF CASHEW

In the Philippines, cashew trees flower from November to March, while the harvest season is from February to May and may extend up to early June. The quality of nuts and yield is dependent on weather conditions during the fruiting stage. If it rains during the reproductive phase, poor quality nuts are produced. Fruits are usually harvested manually, although a number of farmers wait for the fruits to drop as the main concern of farmers is the nut. Nuts are picked from the ground, separated from the cashew apple, cleaned and dried.

In places where cashew apples are processed into juice, wine and other delicacies, fruits are harvested using a pole with a wire hook attached to its end. The pole is provided with a shallow net or cloth bag to catch the detached fruits.

8. MARKETING

Cashew is mainly marketed as raw nut to local traders and processors. Some growers process cashew nuts into roasted splits and whole kernels and sell them directly to consumers, wholesalers or retailers. Most of the raw nuts shipped to Metro Manila are processed for use by food manufacturers.

The local traders or wholesalers employ local agents to collect nuts from different areas. Some traders go directly to farmers to buy cashew nuts and transport the produce to processors. Some of the wholesalers also export raw nuts.

In most villages, farmers are not yet organized to market their raw produce or processed products. With the introduction of a government program to provide assistance, especially through farmer organizations, the trend now is for farmers to formally organize themselves and affiliate the organization with the Cooperative Development Authority. This supports also the marketing activities of farmers.

9. POTENTIAL FOR CASHEW NUT PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT

The projected local demand for cashew nut alone by the year 2000 is about 5,600 tons. With the 5.4 % annual growth rate of world cashew nut exports, the market for the commodity is still enormous.

With the agro-industrial development program of the country and the government information drive on products that may be derived from cashew besides the use of the kernel as food, cashew has great potential for development. The utilization of cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) in the industry is an ongoing research and development program in both private and government sectors.

The vast areas for reforestation and the agro-forestry program of the Philippine government will be a good avenue to expand cashew development. Cashew is a good crop for reforestation, especially in coastal areas that are prone to wind erosion. The crop requires a distinct dry season which normally coincides with its flowering and fruiting cycles. There are many regions in the country that have similar climatic regimes.

10. CONSTRAINTS IN CASHEW NUT PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT

Since cashew can assure a good income, considering the range of products it can give from the nut alone, the problems facing the production sector need to be given some attention. These include the limited supply of grafted plants of recommended varieties; occurrence of pests and diseases, especially anthracnose during the reproductive phase; low level of knowledge of farmers on production and post-harvest technologies brought about by poor communication links to production areas; and the lack of financial resources for farmer groups to embark on processing of their crop of nuts and cashew apples.

11. CONCLUDING REMARKS

It is inevitable that cashew production will improve with the availability of vast natural resources available for the development of the crop. The increasing domestic requirements for food confectioneries for the nut alone and eventually for cashew apples can assure a good income for cashew farmers, especially if village-level processing can be developed for the crop.

The agro-forestry program of the government has given priority to promote cashew as one of the candidate crops to be grown. This will accelerate the development program for cashew. It is important therefore, that the technology transfer, promotion and dissemination of production technologies including cultural management of the crop be given priority in the development programs on cashew. The information and the technology application for this crop are very important to the cashew industry.

Furthermore, research and development in cashew production and post-harvest activities have to be strengthened to offer the new technologies to the cashew industry. The utilization of various by-products will undoubtedly motivate farmers to embark on expanding cashew production. Market linkages for processed products and by-products have to be established through the assistance of government Institutions. The Philippines is one of the few countries that has a great future to develop cashew production given the right research and development support from the relevant organizations.