CASHEW DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, MALAYSIA

Cashew cultivation has been concentrated mostly along the east coast of west Malaysia on highly leached bris soil of marine origin. These are excessively drained, poor structured soil occuring over a narrow ridge running prallel to the coast line. Considering the fact that bris soils are suitable for cashew, the Malaysian government started cashew research programmes in 1952. At present an area of 6100 ha is under cashew cultivation in Malaysia.

Under the second Malayan Plan (1960–1965) and the first Malaysian Plan (1966–1970) the Federal Government had sanctioned funds for the development of cashew cultivation (Table 1).

Under the first Malaysian Plan, a two-pronged approach namely the planting vacant State land and the subsidizing small holders to grow cashew in their land was initiated. The response of the farmers to the scheme was not very encouraging due to the then prevailing notion that cashew is not an economical crop and it is prone to fire damage during dry seasons.

Under the Second Malaysian Plan the New Economic Policy of the Government was introduced with an objective of eradication of poverty through increasing opportunities for intersectoral movement from low productivity to higher productivity activities. The state Department of Agriculture had introduced cashew and paddy cultivation for the fishermen and farmers living along the coast. The State Government and the Federal Government will provide land and finance. The project is to be operated on a group basis with the supervision and aids given by the Department of Agriculture. Under the project ‘Cashew for the Fishermen’ the government had planted 95 ha in 1977 and 213 ha in 1978. The area for 1979 and 1980 are 206 ha and 270 ha respectively. The Department of Agriculture will manage the planting and when the trees start bearing the government

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