Research Overview
The key areas of cashew research in the directorate include crop improvement, crop management, crop protection, post-harvest technology, and transfer of technology. There are five priority areas under which the basic and applied research on these subjects is conducted, covering cashew cashew-growing states of India.
Priority area 01: Genetic improvement of cashew for productivity, quality and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses through conventional breeding and biotechnological approaches
Priority area 02: Development of refined production technologies in cashew
Priority area 03: Integrated insect pest and disease management in cashew
Priority area 04: Development of food products and machinery for pre- and post-harvest management and processing
Priority area 05: Developing methodologies and ICT Tools for capacity building and transfer of technologies in Cashew
In addition to in-house research projects, student research projects are also carried out in areas such as cashew breeding, biotechnology, horticulture, and value addition. Many externally funded research and development projects on subjects such as DUS guidelines, drone technology, speed breeding, chemical ecology, farmer-centric pest diagnostics, model cashew village, and front-line demonstrations are also taken up. The directorate also conducts crop improvement, management and protection-related research in 14 All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) centres spread across the country to cater to the regional needs.
