Cashew Museum: An Impressive Showcase of the Crop in Its Entirety
Due to the perennial nature of cashew and its seasonality of production, providing field exposure on all aspects is difficult during a particular visit of farmers to the research organisations. This necessitated the need for a modern Plant Health Clinic/Museum (PHCM) on cashew with the help of modern information and communication technologies. This facility can provide a one-stop point for the dissemination of cashew-related technologies to farmers, students, researchers and other stakeholders. Hence, a state-of-the-art cashew museum was recently established with the support of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana – Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR), Govt. of Karnataka, at the ICAR- Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur.
The museum cum plant health clinic has been developed with many unique and interesting features. The kiosk in the museum provides a one-stop point to get relevant information about cashew cultivation and processing. The plant health aspects can be learnt with the images and videos in the kiosk through different custom-made software for pest attack, disease incidence and nutrient deficiency symptoms, along with options for their management.
The digital display frames provide information on all aspects of cashew cultivation, management, processing and value addition through videos. Digital translates/bromides are illuminated films or transparencies lit from behind or above, which provide information on various facets of development and care required for cashew orchards. The press button information board helps to learn about different attributes of popular varieties of cashew.
Further, the storytelling boards present information in an appealing audiovisual format so as to impress farmers to improve the income from cashew orchards. Scrolling translates to help increase the linguistic capacity of the museum, where information in all possible languages is provided. The Sample enclosures showcase specimens, samples and models of different items related to cashew. Another interesting aspect of the museum is the mural painting that depicts the elements of historical and current events of the cashew crop.
It is hoped that this museum will be a visual treat to the visitors, a knowledge bank of the cashew crop and cater to the diagnostic needs of the visiting farmers, students and processors.
This cashew museum surely enthralls the visitors with a long-lasting memory of an interactive tool for learning.
