Now Reading: Kerala Agricultural University launches eco-friendly cashew grafts
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Kerala Agricultural University launches eco-friendly cashew grafts
Kerala Agricultural University, in collaboration with the Kerala Forest Research Institute, has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of using Coir Fibre Root Trainers for cashew graft production as an alternative to plastic polybags. Under the new system, cashew seedlings are raised in 150-cc coir fibre root trainers, and grafting is performed on two-month-old seedlings.
T. Sajitha Rani, Vice Chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University, stated that CRTs have the potential to substantially replace plastic polybags in cashew nurseries. Sujanapal, Principal Scientist at KFRI, noted that while KFRI has used CRTs for over 100 forest species and supplied more than one lakh seedlings, this is the first attempt for cashew grafts.
Sheik Hyder Hussain, a former Indian Forest Service officer, said CRT production is progressing under a GAIL India CSR project. The adoption of CRTs is expected to reduce resource requirements, improve transportation, and enhance labour efficiency, making cashew graft production more sustainable and easier to manage.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The shift from plastic polybags to coir-based root trainers addresses a growing environmental concern in Indian horticulture: nurseries generate lakhs of non-biodegradable polybags annually. Coir is abundant in Kerala, making this a locally sourced solution. The technology has already been validated for forest species, so the cashew-specific trial extends a proven method. The involvement of GAIL India's CSR funding suggests potential for scaling if costs remain competitive. The next step will be monitoring field survival rates of CRT-raised grafts versus polybag-raised ones, which will determine broader adoption among commercial cashew growers across Kerala and neighbouring states.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
