Inaugurating the buyer-seller business meet in connection with the Congress, he said it was important that the meet discuss the various issues facing the cashew industry in respect to production, processing and consumption and find solutions to them. The Congress should understand the emerging trends and lay stress on the concept of promoting cashew as nutritional and health food item. The Congress should take up the campaign to promote the health value of cashew.

Already, there had been a 17 per cent fall in cashew export quantity-wise and 41 per cent in dollar terms. This was bad for the country, he said, adding that steps should be initiated to overcome this situation. In the world's total cashew kernel trade of $ 208 million, India had a 65 per cent share. With India leading in the production, processing and export of cashew kernels, the onus was on the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) to take the lead in promoting production and consumption of cashew.

The council should in collaboration with the cashew-producing States and the Centre take steps to help the industry set up drying yards and cold storage facilities, improve packaging system and improve processing to meet world standards, he said.

Joint secretary in Union commerce ministry R Gopalan in a special address said new methods like contract farming by corporates should be introduced in the cashew industry and the crop should be given a plantation crop status.

With cashew kernel being imported to the country, there was need for better co-operation and co-ordination among cashew-producing countries. This Congress should serve to be the best platform for this, he added.

The Centre had been rendering all possible help to the industry to adopt new and more scientific methods for production and processing. It was important that those participating in the congress devise means to create a common fund which could be used by the different countries for R&D activities and thus help consumption and production of value-added products.

It was also important that India increase cashew production so that it take a top slot in the world cashew industry.

CEPCI chairman P Gangadharan Pillai who welcomed the gathering said the cashew industry was passing through a crisis and the world market for cashew kernels was not so encouraging. The supply-demand gap was high. However, the council would take all steps to raise production and exports both quantity and value-wise. Tanzanian minister for marketing and co-operation George Kahaama, CEPCI vice-chairman K Krishna Pillai, Cashew Congress convenor R Pratap Nair were present on the occasion.

Papers referring to different aspects of cashew production and trade were presented. Horticulture commissioner HP Singh's paper dealt with the production scenario in the country and looked into the various aspects of production and processing. Both Mr Chethan Ishrani of CBC Corporation and Ray Garman dealt with net trading. Mr Anders Egheus presented a paper on shipping and cashew business.

Awards of honour were presented to P Gandharan Pillai of Kerala Nut Food Company, Kollam, Mr K Ravindranathan Nair of Vijayalaxmi Cashew, Kollam, P Bharatan Pillai of The Planters Company, New Jersy, Hiroto Nakajima of Tokya Nut Company, Japan, and Mr Henk Zijlmans of The Nut Company, the Netherlands. An exhibition with 25 participants was opened by Mr Gopalan in connection with the congress.