Cashew cultivation expanded

Nimal Wijesinghe- Anuradhapura Additional District group correspondent

Cashew cultivation in Anuradhapura, Jaffna, Mullaithivu, Mannar, Vavuniya and Kilinochchi districts is on the increase. Anuradhapura Cashew Corporations Regional Manager Nalin Warushawithana told the Daily News that cashew has been grown in more than 6,000 acres in the district during the last five years.

Cashew was cultivated in 800 acres under the corporation's subsidy programme during 2011 and 2012. Another 400 acres will be cultivated with the crop in the district this year. Cashew has also been cultivated in Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaithivu Jaffna, and Kilinochchi in around 500 acres under the project, Warushawithana said.

He said a farmer is provided Rs 9,500 as an incentive. The Regional Manager said in 2011, 32,000 budded cashew plants and 8,000 seedlings were distributed in the district.

It has been planned to distribute around 175,000 plants this year, he said. About 58,000 cashew plants were issued to farmers in Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaithivu and Kilinochchi district.

Cashew is grown successfully in Mahawilachchiya, Medawachchiya, Nuwaragam Palatha (central) Nochchiyagama and Mihintale Divisional Secretariat divisions.

The Oyamaduwa model cashew plantation was extended from 100 to 200 acres, he said.