By Shailesh Yada Ratnagiri (Maharashtra) [India] In the serene landscape of Ratnagiri, where the aroma of Alphonso mangoes lingers in the air, another treasure awaits discovery: the Ratnagiri cashew, considered the world's finest, in its Famous for rich taste and superior nutritional profile. , Ratnagiri Cache stands as a symbol of agricultural excellence. Yet, behind this accolade is a story of turmoil, as the cashew industry in the Konkan region is again battling global competition. Despite Ratnagiri's status as a cashew powerhouse, its farmers and processors find themselves in dire straits. Are. The lure of cheap imports from African countries has overshadowed local produce, leaving the industry in crisis, Hrishikesh Paranjape, owner of Paranjape Agro Products, laments the plight faced by local processors who find themselves incurring losses due to price differentials. Find in. Imported and domestic cashew nuts.This season, raw cashew was purchased locally at Rs 110 per kg, while imports from Africa cost between Rs 90 and Rs 95 per kg. The plight of cashew farmers has not been ignored on the political platform, with sitting Member of Parliament Vinayak Raut supporting their cause. Raut, who is contesting his third term from the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat, condemned the steep fall in prices for farmers, claiming that five years ago, they used to get Rs 165 per kg, while today they barely get Rs 95 per kg. . The figures show a serious situation. Pictureing an industry in crisis, a significant portion of India's cashew seeds are imported from Africa.Fierce competition from global rivals, especially Vietnam, further increases the challenges faced by domestic producers. According to a report, Vietnam exported cashew nuts worth US$2.7 billion during 2022, accounting for 42.4 percent of total cashew exports globally. According to the latest conventional data from the Commerce Ministry, from April 2023 to March 2024, India exported cashew nuts worth US $ 339.2. MN Paranjape highlighted the disparities in credit tenure and logistics costs between India and Vietnam, underscoring the need for structural reforms at the level. Paranjape said efforts are underway by the government to strengthen the infrastructure of the region and Ratnagiri also needs dedicated ports and airports.The absence of an airport and port in Ratnagiri increases the logistics challenges of the industry, increasing its dependence on Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port. Cashew export. Paranjape stressed the potential benefits of improving infrastructure, seeing Ratnagiri as a hub for both Alphonso mango and cashew, as well as increased competitiveness on the global stage. On Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed an election rally for Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and MSME minister Narayan Rane. , During his address, Shah said the NDA government has set up a cashew board to support cashew farmers, and a dedicated board for Ratnagiri mango is in the works. The world famous Alphonso mango is produced here.Alphonso mango from Ratnagiri Sindhudurg, Palghar, Thane and Raigad districts of Maharashtra got the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2018. According to the Federation of Indian Exporters Organization (FIEO), the GI process for cashew is underway and is expected to get the GI tag soon. Ra cashew has played an important role in the development of the cashew industry, accounting for almost half of the domestic and export demand for cashew kernels in the country. India exports cashew to more than 60 countries. UAE, Japan and Netherlands are the top 3 importers of Indian cashew nuts.