Mangaluru: Bharat Agri Development Farmers Producer Company Ltd., a farmer producer organisation (FPO) based in Vittal, has received a licence to produce Cashew Special, a foliar nutrient formulation developed by scientists of the ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research (ICAR-DCR), Puttur.
The formulation is expected to increase nut and cashew apple yields by 25-30%, the scientists said. The formulation is to be sprayed at a concentration of 0.5%, by mixing 5 g in one litre of water, during the flushing, flowering and nut-development stages each year.
Veena GL, senior scientist, ICAR-DCR, and one of the developers of the formulation, said Cashew Special supplements key micronutrients as well as secondary nutrients such as potassium and magnesium. Aswathy Chandrakumar, scientist and principal investigator of the PM RKVY-RAFTAAR project, said the initiative aims to popularise advanced cashew technologies and strengthen linkages between farmers, FPOs and research institutions. To address these challenges, a team of scientists led by Shamsudheen M, former principal scientist, soil science, ICAR-DCR, developed Cashew Special for foliar application in cashew orchards.