Director of ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research inauguates ‘Cashew Special’ production unit at Vitla

J. Dinakara Adiga, Director of ICAR-DCR, Puttur, releases ‘Cashew Special’, at a production unit of Bharat Agri Development Farmers’ Producer Company Ltd. at Vitla in Dakshina Kannada on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT The Director of the Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR), under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Puttur, J. Dinakara Adiga, inaugurated ‘Cashew Special’, which is a micronutrient formulation for foliar application in cashew orchards, production unit of Bharat Agri Development Farmers’ Producer Company Ltd., a farmer producer organisation (FPO), at Vitla in Dakshina Kannada on Thursday.Earlier, ICAR-DCR had issued the FPO its licence to produce ‘Cashew Special’. The micronutrient formulation was developed by a team of scientists led by Shamsudheen M, a former Principal Scientist (Soil Science) at the ICAR-DCR. The licence was issued under the Government of Karnataka’s Prime Minister’s Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana – Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (PM RKVY-RAFTAAR) project titled “Development of model cashew villages for transforming farm livelihoods in Karnataka”.Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Adiga explained the importance of the micronutrient formulation in increasing cashew yields. He envisaged the need for timely application of nutrient formulation to improve vegetative growth, fruit and nut set. The Director urged the FPO to make good use of the opportunity and provide good quality products to the farmers and other interested stakeholders.Veena G.L., Senior Scientist (Spices, Plantation, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants) and one of the formulation’s developers, emphasised that ‘Cashew Special’ supplements key micronutrients along with secondary nutrients such as potassium and magnesium and is expected to increase yield by 25–30% in terms of both nut and apple yield.Aswathy Chandrakumar, Scientist (Agricultural Extension) and Principal Investigator of the PM RKVY-RAFTAAR project, highlighted that the project aims to popularise advanced technologies in cashew and strengthen linkages among farmers, farmer producer organisations, and research institutions through such initiatives.Prasad Shetty, Managing Director of the FPO, in his address, informed the farmers to make the best use of the opportunities extended under the government scheme and highlighted the importance of such collaborations in promoting improved agricultural technologies and supporting farming communities. Packets of Cashew Special, a micronutrient formulation for foliar application in cashew orchards, produced by Bharat Agri Development Farmers’ Producer Company Ltd., a farmer-producer organisation, at Vitla in Dakshina Kannada. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Micronutrients and mineralsMicronutrients such as zinc and boron are deficient in most soils in cashew-growing regions. Further, limited soil moisture during summer makes soil application of nutrients challenging during more nutrient-demanding critical stages such as flushing, flowering, and fruiting. In view of these challenges, the ICAR-DCR team of scientists developed ‘Cashew Special’. This crop-specific foliar nutrient formulation supplements key micronutrients along with essential secondary nutrients such as potassium and magnesium. Timely application of the foliar spray ensures immediate nutrient absorption during the critical phenophase, resulting in a 25–30% increase in nut and cashew apple yield.‘Cashew Special’ should be sprayed by mixing 5 grams in one litre of water (0.5% concentration) during the flushing, flowering, and nut development phases each year, a ICAR-DCR release said. Published - November 12, 2026 06:34 pm IST