DHAKA, Oct 4, 2020 (BSS) – As cashews and coffee become crops with high economic value and attain the status of export-oriented commodities, the government will provide all out cooperation to promote cultivation of those crops, besides some other obsolete crops.
Giving assurance to growers and entrepreneurs, Agriculture Minister Dr M Abdur Razzaque today said the country has a huge scope to produce such types of crops and through exports can earn foreign currencies.
“All kinds of assistance including supply of developed varieties of plants and necessary technical help and technology will be provided to those farmers and entrepreneurs who will come forward to cultivate and processing of those obsolete crops”, the minister said virtually inaugurating the ‘jackpot cashew industries processing unit-2’ at Nilphamari.
The jackpot cashew nut industry limited—a cashew nut processing center launched in June, 2016 at Staff Quarter crossing in Nilphamari district—produces 4,000 kg nuts monthly and now commercially sells the product to the local markets and super shops in different places across the country.
Dr Razzaque said cashews are very much potential cash crops as the country has enormous possibility to cultivate the nuts which is native to Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America, including northeastern Brazil.
In 2017, global production of cashew nuts (as the kernel) was 3,971,046 tonnes, led by Vietnam, India and Ivory Coast with 22%, 19%, and 18% of the world’s total respectively. Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Tanzania, Mozambique, Indonesia, and Brazil also had significant production of cashew kernels.
He said the hilly and northern regions of the country have a scope to cultivate cashews and coffee on commercial basis.
On the other hand, the minister said the country has huge scope to export those crops as international markets have huge demand for nuts and coffee.
Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Dr M Abdul Muyeed and Deputy Commissioner of Nilphamari M Hafizur Rahman Chowdhury, among others, attended the function.