About Directorate of Cashew Research
Research on cashew was first initiated in the early 1950s. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), sanctioned adhoc schemes for Research Centres located at Kottarakkara (Kerala), Ullal (Karnataka), Bapatla (Andhra Pradesh), Daregaon (Assam) and Vengurla (Maharashtra). In 1971, ICAR also sanctioned All India Coordinated Spices and Cashew Improvement Project (AICS and CIP) with its Headquarters located at CPCRI, Kasaragod. The CPCRI Regional Station, Vittal (Karnataka) was given the mandate to carry out research work on cashew while four Centres under Universities (Bapatla, Vridhachalam, Anakkayam and Vengurla) were assigned the research component on cashew under AICS and CIP. During the V and VI plan periods three more Centres (Bhubaneswar, Jhargram and Chintamani) came under the fold of AICS and CIP and with shifting of work of Anakkayam Centre to Madakkathara. The recommendations made by the Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) constituted by ICAR in 1982, working group on Agricultural Research and Education constituted by the Planning Commission for VII Plan Proposals and the Task Force on Horticulture constituted by ICAR resulted in the establishment of National Research Centre for Cashew at Puttur on 18 June, 1986 which was upgraded and renamed by ICAR in 2009 under XI Plan as ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research (ICAR-DCR). Subsequent to the bifurcation of AICS and CIP, the Headquarters of All India Coordinated Research Project on Cashew was shifted to ICAR-DCR, Puttur. At present, this Coordinated Research Project is operating at 14 Centres distributed in major cashew growing areas of the country.
Location
The main campus of ICAR-DCR is situated 5 km away from Puttur town at Kemminje (12.45° N latitude, 75.15° E longitude and 90 m above MSL). The main campus has an area of 68 ha with field experiments and Laboratory-cum-Administrative Block. Experimental Station at Shantigodu, which also forms part of the Directorate is 13 km away from the main campus and has an area of 80 ha.
Vision
Accomplishing self- sufficiency in raw cashewnut production and maintaining premier position as largest producer, processor and exporter at global level.
Mission
To promote overall growth through enhancement of production and productivity in cashew
.
Mandate
- To undertake strategic, basic and applied research for enhancing productivity, quality,
processing efficiency and value addition of cashew. - To serve as National Repository of genetic resources and scientific information on cashew.
- To coordinate All India Coordinated Research Project on Cashew for addressing location and region specific problems.
- To promote capacity building through transfer of technology and consultancy services to
stakeholders.
Organizational setup and Infrastructure
The main campus has an area of 68 ha with field experiments and Laboratory-cum-Administrative Block, Conference Hall, Library, Engineering Workshop. Experimental Station at Shantigodu, which also forms part of the Directorate is 13 KM away from the main campus and has an area of 80 ha. with field experiments.
At main campus, the laboratories like Horticulture, Soil Science, Plant Breeding, Plant Physiology, Biotechnology, Plant Protection, Post Harvest Management and Audio-Visual Laboratory have been established. Besides, Project Coordination Cell of AICRP on Cashew, PME Cell, AKMU etc are also established.
The Directorate has got well-established library in the field of cashew research. The library is serving as an Information Centre on all aspects of cashew research and development in the country. The CD database viz., CABHORT, CABPEST, AGRICOLA and AGRIS, SOIL CD, CROP CD, PLANTGENE CD and TROPAG CD and online CAB data base, are also available. The library is equipped with automation software and bar coding facility. The library has 1853 books and 1950 back volumes of various journals. The library subscribes 35 National and 20 International journals. The library is a member of Consortium of Electronic Resources on Agriculture (CeRA), New Delhi. Tech- Focuz digital library software is also available for CD Database search.
The Headquarters of AICRP on Cashew is located at DCR Cashew, Puttur. It has ten Coordinating Centres and a Sub-Centre located in Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra in West Coast, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in the East Coast and in Chattisgarh, Gujarat and Jharkhand. There are three Co-operating Centres in Arabhavi (Karnataka), Old Goa (Goa) and Barapani (Meghalaya).
