Post by Trade facilitator on Feb 8, 2021 11:08:55 GMT 1
Anacardium occidentale (cashew tree) is a tropical evergreen tree which produces both the cashew seed and the cashew apple. [1] It grows mainly as high as 14 m (46 ft), but the dwarf cashew, growing up to 6 m (20 ft), has proved more profitable, with earlier maturity and higher yields.
Origin of cashew nuts
The species is originally native to North-Eastern Brazil. Portuguese colonists in Brazil began exporting cashew nuts as early as the 1550s.
Major production of cashews occurs in Vietnam, Nigeria, India, and Ivory Coast .
The cashew nut, often simply called a cashew, is widely eaten on its own, used in recipes, or processed into cashew cheese or cashew butter. The shell of the cashew seed yields derivatives that can be used in many applications including lubricants, waterproofing, paints, and arms production, starting in World War II. The cashew apple is a light reddish to yellow fruit, whose pulp can be processed into a sweet, astringent fruit drink or distilled into liquor.
How To Plant Cashew Trees
Fresh seeds germinate readily, so if you know of a cashew tree in your area, or have another way of getting hold of fresh seeds (that's the whole thing, shell and all, not just the nut!), you can grow cashew trees from seed. But be aware that cashew seeds don't grow true to type, meaning, the plant you get is not identical to the parent. (It may not fruit as much or taste as nice.)
Some fruit tree nurseries stock seedling or grafted trees. Commercial growers usually propagate their own. If you have a grower in the area you may be able to buy stock of him.
If you want to grow your cashew trees from seeds you can start them in pots or
put them straight in the ground. Keep them moist and they should sprout within four or five days.
Best planting time
When you can get hold of fresh seed. The sooner you plant it, the better.
Select a well drained spot (cashew trees don't like wet feet or heavy clay soils), preferably a place that has some protection from strong winds.
Mature trees need about 10 metres distance between them, and they grow to 12 metres tall.
Cashews grow best in sandy soils, but sandy soils don't hold much water and are generally not very fertile. The trees will still do fine without additional attention.
However, if a good crop is important to you (read: if you want to grow them
commercially) then you need to supply your cashew trees with additional water
and fertilizer. Irrigate during dry periods, and fertilize the trees when they actively grow, as well as during flowering and nut development. (They will mainly need nitrogen and phosphorus, and possibly zinc.)
Sales and export of cashew nuts
Export market: India and Singapore are main buyers of cashew nut produced in Nigeria. What’s left goes to Europe.
Export price: the free on board (fob) export price of raw cashew nut is approximately
₦340,000/MT. However, if processed into kernels, the fob price could be four times higher!
Local price: The local price of unprocessed cashew nuts delivered in Lagos starts from
₦220,000 in the peak season and reaches about ₦280,000.00 when the season is over.
Nutritional Facts of Cashew Nuts
Cashews are very nutritious and are a powerhouse of proteins and essential minerals including copper , calcium, magnesium , iron ,
phosphorus , potassium, and zinc and sodium. Cashew nuts also contain vitamins such as vitamin C , vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin). They are a source of oleic acid and provide a good quantity of monounsaturated fat and low amounts of polyunsaturated fats with no harmful cholesterol if consumed appropriately.
Health benefits of cashew nut
Contrary to the popular belief that it can make you gain fat, a considerable amount of cashew nuts in your diet can provide you with many health benefits which include: Heart, health, prevents blood disease, protects the eye, nourishes the Skin and weight Loss.
Origin of cashew nuts
The species is originally native to North-Eastern Brazil. Portuguese colonists in Brazil began exporting cashew nuts as early as the 1550s.
Major production of cashews occurs in Vietnam, Nigeria, India, and Ivory Coast .
The cashew nut, often simply called a cashew, is widely eaten on its own, used in recipes, or processed into cashew cheese or cashew butter. The shell of the cashew seed yields derivatives that can be used in many applications including lubricants, waterproofing, paints, and arms production, starting in World War II. The cashew apple is a light reddish to yellow fruit, whose pulp can be processed into a sweet, astringent fruit drink or distilled into liquor.
How To Plant Cashew Trees
Fresh seeds germinate readily, so if you know of a cashew tree in your area, or have another way of getting hold of fresh seeds (that's the whole thing, shell and all, not just the nut!), you can grow cashew trees from seed. But be aware that cashew seeds don't grow true to type, meaning, the plant you get is not identical to the parent. (It may not fruit as much or taste as nice.)
Some fruit tree nurseries stock seedling or grafted trees. Commercial growers usually propagate their own. If you have a grower in the area you may be able to buy stock of him.
If you want to grow your cashew trees from seeds you can start them in pots or
put them straight in the ground. Keep them moist and they should sprout within four or five days.
Best planting time
When you can get hold of fresh seed. The sooner you plant it, the better.
Select a well drained spot (cashew trees don't like wet feet or heavy clay soils), preferably a place that has some protection from strong winds.
Mature trees need about 10 metres distance between them, and they grow to 12 metres tall.
Cashews grow best in sandy soils, but sandy soils don't hold much water and are generally not very fertile. The trees will still do fine without additional attention.
However, if a good crop is important to you (read: if you want to grow them
commercially) then you need to supply your cashew trees with additional water
and fertilizer. Irrigate during dry periods, and fertilize the trees when they actively grow, as well as during flowering and nut development. (They will mainly need nitrogen and phosphorus, and possibly zinc.)
Sales and export of cashew nuts
Export market: India and Singapore are main buyers of cashew nut produced in Nigeria. What’s left goes to Europe.
Export price: the free on board (fob) export price of raw cashew nut is approximately
₦340,000/MT. However, if processed into kernels, the fob price could be four times higher!
Local price: The local price of unprocessed cashew nuts delivered in Lagos starts from
₦220,000 in the peak season and reaches about ₦280,000.00 when the season is over.
Nutritional Facts of Cashew Nuts
Cashews are very nutritious and are a powerhouse of proteins and essential minerals including copper , calcium, magnesium , iron ,
phosphorus , potassium, and zinc and sodium. Cashew nuts also contain vitamins such as vitamin C , vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin). They are a source of oleic acid and provide a good quantity of monounsaturated fat and low amounts of polyunsaturated fats with no harmful cholesterol if consumed appropriately.
Health benefits of cashew nut
Contrary to the popular belief that it can make you gain fat, a considerable amount of cashew nuts in your diet can provide you with many health benefits which include: Heart, health, prevents blood disease, protects the eye, nourishes the Skin and weight Loss.
