Can you buy cashew with the same ease of buying mangoes or apples? Your hand might automatically recoil when you realize you have to pay at least ₹1000 per kilogram, right? But what if you could produce cashews yourself, which command a premium price and offer excellent health benefits? Jiju from Padiyakkandathil in Adaykkathottam, Kelakam, Kannur, points out that high-value crops are now practical in Kerala, and cashews should be the first to be considered. Many who have abandoned rubber cultivation are now growing exotic fruits like rambutan. However, he noted that even rambutan prices fall during seasons of high production. They fetch a maximum of ₹100–120 per kilogram. But Jiju states that the price of cashews, ranging from ₹1100–1500 per kilogram, will not drop under any circumstances.

The consumption of cashews is increasing day by day. Cashews, once a snack primarily enjoyed by the affluent, are now consumed by common people as well. It has become common to add cashews to biryani, biscuits, puddings, and even curries. Sprouted cashews are also making their way into kitchens. In this scenario, Jiju says that cashew cultivation can be undertaken without any concern regarding prices or marketing. It can be easily cultivated from coastal areas to hill slopes. Assistance from government agencies is also available. The cultivation method is simple, and there are many opportunities for value addition.

Income can be significantly boosted through modern methods like ultra-high-density farming. High-yielding varieties like 'Cashew King' can be planted 7–7.5 metres apart. Jiju states that if cultivated scientifically, a net profit of up to ₹3 lakh per acre can be achieved. It requires proper fertilization, spraying pesticides against tea mosquitoes, weeding, and pruning. Even so, it requires only half the care needed for rubber. He also points out that there is no other long-term crop that yields income from the second year onwards.

Jiju states that the cashew variety he developed, named 'Jiju's Cashew King,' is cultivated even in African countries, and its primary advantage is the high-quality cashews it produces. Income will only increase if the cashews have good size and weight. Jiju advises keeping this in mind when selecting a variety. Since the cashew nut easily separates from the cashew apple, labour costs can be reduced. Another advantage is that it drops as soon as it begins to ripen, allowing it to be picked before it rots. Just 80–90 cashews are enough to make a kilogram.

Jiju meticulously observed an excellent cashew tree discovered 10 years ago in a friend's garden in Kottiyoor. He took cuttings from it, grafted them in his own nursery, and produced saplings. His family, relatives, and friends were the first to purchase these saplings. Word of their positive experiences spread, and within eight years, farmers from numerous places, ranging from Kodagu to Kollam, came seeking this 'King' variety. It shows excellent results even in the high temperatures of Maharashtra and Karnataka, and in laterite soil with low nutrient content. Jiju's Padiyakkandathil Nursery delivers saplings anywhere in Kerala.

How this cashew tree becomes a king
The tree yields fruit from the second year of planting. As it it flowers continuously, harvesting is possible from mid-January when the season begins until the end of the season. The cashew tree that reached full growth bears big-sized nuts, which accounts for an average of 80-90 cashew nuts per kilogram. It's very easy to separate the nuts from the fruit (cashew apple). The tree ensures an average yield even if the weather is bad. The cashew apple falls to the ground as soon as it ripens. A tree produces clusters with an average of 20 fruits each.
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