Despite switching to the steam-boiling method, cashew operators at Palasa near here are yet to begin operations as workers still prefer units with the drum roasting system.
A worker earns Rs 6 for breaking a kg of cashew nut and can break around 20 kg nuts in a day in the drum roasting method thereby earning around Rs 120 per day. However, in the boiler system, a worker can break only 7-8 kg of nuts a day and, therefore, earns only Rs 40-50 a day.
“Though we are offering Rs 3 more on each kg of nuts, workers still prefer the drum roasting units as they offer better revenue,” K Nooka Raju, former president, Palasa Cashew manufacturers Association, said.
Though the pollution control board had directed all the units to switch to steam-boiling method, a few operators are still using the drum roasting method. “Pollution department officials are taking stringent action against operators in Palasa if they do not convert their processing systems. However, no action is being taken on operations with drum roasting system in other areas of the district,” he said.
There are about 300 cashew processing units in Srikakulam district, of which about 170 are located in Palasa.
In order to check the emission levels caused by the cashew units here, the Andhra Pradesh pollution control board had advised the operators to change the processing system from roasting to steam-boiling. It has also started issuing closer notices to the units failing to comply with the order.
Following this, cashew processing units gradually started switching to the boiler method with the assistance from the government, which is offering a subsidy of 25 per cent on conversion costs.
“Cashew processing units have to invest Rs 5-10 lakh in each unit to change to the boiler method. But now, the units are lying idle due to unavailability of labour even though new crop has started arriving from the last four weeks,” Nooka Raju said.