Kerala's cashew industry seeks central, state support to stay afloat

Nearly 90% of the 865-plus factories have shut down, over 80% of 3,00,000 workers are jobless; most units have become NPAs

The cashew processing industry in Kerala, which accounted for almost 85 per cent of the country’s production ten years ago, is looking for central and State government support and a total revamp of its traditional factories to save itself from a complete shutdown. Almost 90 per cent of the over 865 factories in the State are closed down and around 250,000 of the total 300,000 workers are jobless now, as most of the factories have become Non Performing Assets (NPA).

The Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) has come out with a revival package for short-, medium- and long-term implementation