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KERALA
AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
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Recognition to Cashew Scientists
Two Research Papers presented by Dr. Gavas Ragesh and Sri. Gregory Zachariah, scientists of Cashew Research Station , Madakkathara has been awarded the “Best Oral presentation” and “Best Poster presentation” respectively during the First International Symposium on Cashew Nut-2011, organized by the International Society for Horticultural Sciences (ISHS) and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) at Agricultural College & Research Institute, Madurai, during 9th-12th December 2011.
The research paper by Dr. Gavas Ragesh and others reports for the first time the silk production potential of a minor insect pest of cashew viz,. Cricula trifenestrata , which was observed in large numbers in the farmers’ fields of Kannur district. The raw silk from the cocoons successfully completed the preliminary visual test and the mechanical tests with respect to its quality. The spun silk yielded durable silk threads/ yarns with the help of Silk Mark Organization of India (SMOI), Central Silk Board, Palakkad using spinning machines and was successfully used for the weaving silk clothes in power loom on an experimental basis. Tasar, Muga and Eri are the only sources of Vanya silk currently exploited in India. The addition of Cricula as a possible future Vanya silk source will give additional income to cashew farmers as the Cricula silk worm rearing does not affect the normal growth of cashew, as revealed by the preliminary studies.
The performance of the latest Cashew hybrid “Poornima”, from Madakkathara has been presented by Sri. Gregory Zachariah and others. The variety is credited with superior yield potential of 14.1 kg/tree, shelling percentage of 31%, nut weight of 7.8g and kernel weight of 2.6 g, satisfying the requirements of three stake holders in cashew, namely, farmers, processors and exporters.