PROSPECTS FOR CASHEW CULTIVATION IN SURINAME

The climate of Suriname is generally humid and tropical. There are four seasons based on the rainfall distribution, a long rainy season from April to August/September, a long dry season from August/September to mid November, a short rainy season from mid November to mid February and a short dry season from mid February to April (Table 1).

These seasons are highly variable and in some years the short rainy season or the short dry season does not occur, although the long rainy and the long dry seasons are always encountered. The mean annual temperature is almost the same for the whole country and averages about 27°C.

Cashew plant thrives better in its adopted homes of India, Sri Lanka and Africa, than in its natural habitat. A significant feature in the vegetation of the Amazonian region, is the occurrence of many wild species of Anacardium which could be of economic significance in the future.

Among the wild species of Anacardium, a variety that is prominently seen in Suriname is, Anacardium giganteum. This variety holds good prospects for the future, as a source of genetic material in view of the fact that the large apple could be utilized in the preparation of delicious beverages as well as potent alcoholic beverage.

In Suriname, scientific experiments for the growing of cashew, were undertaken only in recent years. Experimentation was undertaken at Coebiti and at Brokkobakka. Seedling material was obtained from diverse sources such as, from India, Tanganika, Sri Lanka, Mozambique and Jamaica with the objective of obtaining information on the adaptability of the cultivars to thrive under untreated conditions in Suriname. The introductions were planted in June 1974.

The yields obtained for two years from the Brokkobakka plot are presented in table 2.

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