Cashew

Planted once, harvested year after year.

Check it on your land

Season

Whole year

100% of its area.

Water

1,240–1,330 mm

over its season

Temperature

15–35 °C

0° survives 5–46 °C 40°

When to sow and harvest

Planted once at the start of the monsoon. It stays for years and gives a harvest every year.

Will it grow on your land?

Pick a place and water to see if it suits your land, and what it earns.

What it needs

Temperature

15–35 °C

best 15–35° 5° 46°

0 °C40 °C

Survives 5–46 °C.

Water

1,240–1,330 mm over its season

North Goa East Godavari Visakhapatnam Ariyalur Cuddalore

Worked out where most of it grows. Rain and irrigation together.

Soil pH

best 4.5–6.5

4 acidic7 neutral9 alkaline

Likes slightly acidic soil. Grows from pH 3.8 to 8.7.

Soil

No salty soil
Ordinary farm soil is fine
K Needs plenty of potassium

How the soil score works

Source: FAO ECOCROP crop requirements (via OpenCLIM/ecocrop); FAO-56 crop coefficients (Allen et al. 1998); IMD gridded daily rainfall (0.25°); IMD gridded daily max/min temperature (1°).

Fertiliser for one acre

Not covered yet. Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra for the dose.

Watch out for

Not covered yet. Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra what to watch for.

Mandi price, month by month

No mandi prices for this crop yet.

Where it grows in India

Area grown in India: 2,16,207 ha; 2022-23
Average yield: 1.4 t/ha; 2022-23
Most area: North Goa; Goa
Best yield: Kodagu; 3.2 t/ha

States that grow it

Latest state figures for fruits, vegetables, spices and plantation crops.

Source: Horticulture area & production statistics (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare).

Districts with the most area (recent figures)

The map colours each district by yield, for districts growing it on at least 100 ha.

Cashew yield

0.0–0.2 t/ha
0.3–0.3 t/ha
0.4–0.5 t/ha
0.5–1.7 t/ha
1.8–3.2 t/ha

No data

Source: Crop area, production & yield – district-wise (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – UPAG (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare). 2011-12 to 2022-23.

Where yields are highest

Only districts growing it on at least 100 ha.

Across India over the years

Yield (t/ha)

0.0 0.7 1.4

2011-12 2022-23

Latest 1.4 t/ha in 2022-23

Area (ha)

0.0 198K 396K

2011-12 2022-23

Latest 2,16,207 ha in 2022-23

Only years in which most of the usual districts reported are shown.

Soil and yield

How district soil tests line up with this crop's yields across India.

Districts with more soil low in nitrogen tend to have lower cashew yields (moderate pattern, 64 districts).
Districts with more soil medium in nitrogen tend to have higher cashew yields (moderate pattern, 64 districts).
Districts with more soil short of copper tend to have higher cashew yields (moderate pattern, 64 districts).
Districts with more soil high in nitrogen tend to have higher cashew yields (weak pattern, 64 districts).
Districts with more soil short of zinc tend to have higher cashew yields (weak pattern, 64 districts).
Districts with more soil short of iron tend to have higher cashew yields (weak pattern, 64 districts).

A pattern is not proof that soil causes the difference.

Source: Soil Health Card – soil nutrient analysis (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – district-wise (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – UPAG (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare).