The production of raw cashew nuts in India during 2017-18 has increased to all time high at 8.17 lakh metric tonneand registered growth of 4% compared to previous   production of 7.79 lakh metric tonneand 21 % increase compared to 2015-16 production of 6.70 lakh metric tonne. 

However, due to shortage of sufficient quantity of raw cashew nut and higher price for raw cashew nut in the international market, it is reported that the cashew industry is facing the prospect of a demand - supply gap, as the total requirement of raw cashew nut is estimated at 17 lakh metric tonne.

With regard to steps for increasing production of raw cashew nut, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture and Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana has drawn up strategies to increase domestic production by massive area expansion of cashew and replacing of senile cashew plantations with high yielding varieties in traditional and non-traditional states.

The details of quantum of cashew production, export and import of raw cashew in the country during the last five years is given below: -

Production of Raw Cashew Nut

Year	Production of Raw Cashewnut (Lakh MT)
2013-14	7.36
2014-15	7.25
2015-16	6.70
2016-17	7.79
2017-18	8.17

   (Source: DCCD)

India’s Export and Import of CASHEW NUTS FRESH/DRIED IN SHELL (ITCHS Code 080131)

	Export		Import
Year	Quantity (in Ton)	Value (in Million USD)	Quantity (in Ton)	Value (in Million USD)
2013-14	3,900.77	4.03	776334	773.81
2014-15	15,637.75	21.79	933190	1087.16
2015-16	7,014.40	11.34	961665	1339.34
2016-17	9,773.37	19.45	774513	1346.58
2017-18*	5,542.90	10.34	654024	1418.63

(Source: DGCI&S  * Figures of 2017-18 are provisional only)

This information was given by the Minister of State of Commerce and Industry, C. R. Chaudhary, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Raw cashew production rise risks a demand-supply gap; policy emphasizes area expansion and replacing senile plantations. Raw cashew production reached an all time high in 2017-18 at 8.17 lakh metric tonnes yet remains below the estimated domestic requirement of 17 lakh metric tonnes, producing a potential demand-supply gap. Government horticulture programmes propose massive area expansion and replacement of senile plantations with high yielding varieties to increase domestic supply; accompanying production, export and import statistics for recent years are reported, with 2017-18 trade figures provisional.