India’s Cashew Industry Targets Self-Sufficiency by 2035
India could become self-sufficient in cashew production by 2035, according to All India Cashew Association President Bola Rahul Kamath. He said central government support is helping the country accelerate domestic output.
Industry sets a 2035 objective
India could become self-sufficient in cashew production by 2035 as government support helps the domestic industry expand, All India Cashew Association President Bola Rahul Kamath said in Jaipur. The statement was reported by United News of India on August 9.
Kamath said India is advancing rapidly in cashew production with assistance from the central government. The 2035 objective would require the country to increase its supply of raw cashew nuts sufficiently to meet the needs of its domestic market and processing industry.
The association presented the target as achievable rather than as a binding government forecast. No production volume, investment requirement, cultivation-area target or annual growth rate was included in the report. That leaves the pace and scale of the necessary expansion to be defined through subsequent programmes and industry data.
Raw nut supply is the central challenge
AICA has identified higher domestic raw cashew production as a priority for the Indian industry. Its published objectives call for cooperation with the Indian government, non-governmental organisations and industry stakeholders to modernise existing farms, bring new land under cashew cultivation and improve farmers’ incomes.
The association also seeks to strengthen cashew processing and value addition. AICA’s stated agenda includes encouraging technology providers to develop new processing solutions, standardising trade practices for raw nuts and kernels, and consulting public and private stakeholders on industry development.
For processors, the significance of the 2035 target lies in the prospective availability of more domestic feedstock. A larger and more reliable local harvest could change procurement planning, capacity utilisation and exposure to overseas raw-nut supplies. However, the available report does not quantify current import dependence or specify which producing regions would account for additional output.
Trade and market development remain priorities
Self-sufficiency does not mean that India’s cashew sector intends to retreat from international markets. AICA’s published objectives include increasing exports of cashew kernels and other value-added products. The association also works to promote cashew consumption within India, meaning additional production could serve both domestic buyers and export-oriented processors.
The 2035 timetable gives farmers, processors and traders a long-term reference point, but execution will determine its commercial effect. New planting, farm modernisation, processing technology and coordination with government agencies will need to translate into measurable raw-nut output. Until detailed milestones are published, the target should be read as the industry association’s strategic ambition, supported by Kamath’s assessment that central government assistance is already accelerating progress.
