The study makes an attempt to assess the overall profile of the Indian cashew industry, particularly in terms of production and exports. The results indicate that cashew production in India has been fluctuating during the recent years. It is evident from the study that Maharashtra produces more cashew compared to the other states in India, as its average productivity and the area under cashew cultivation are more than that of the other states. The Indian cashew kernel is highly appreciated in other countries for good quality, taste, and appearance; and is consumed in more than 60 countries across the world. The United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, and the Middle East countries are the major export markets for Indian cashew nuts. In spite of its significant growth, the cashew industry in India has been suffering from poor quality of cashew grown in some states, which is mainly due to wrong harvesting technique, unsatisfactory drying of the nuts and inadequate storage and warehouse facilities for storing dried cashew nuts. Thus, the paper suggests that the cashew industry needs certain incentives to achieve a higher growth rate of production as well as exports in future.

Cashew, whose Botanical name is Anacardium Occidentable, is a resilient and fast-growing evergreen tree that can grow to a height of 20m (60 ft). It belongs to the anacardiaceac and mango families. The arid North Eastern Brazil is the native land of cashew. It was spread around the world by the Portuguese and the Spanish who planted cashew trees in their countries as well as in their colonies. The Portuguese brought cashew to India between 1563 and 1578. Later, it was introduced in South Eastern Asia and then it spread to Australia and some parts of the North American continent.

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