Cashews
About a quarter of the world’s cashews are grown in Vietnam followed by Nigeria, India, and the Ivory Coast. [1] In Vietnam, drought and unseasonal rains have had detrimental effects on cashew production. The unseasonal rains interfere with pollination and create ideal conditions for insect pests and diseases causing more losses. [2] In India, cashew crops are at risk due to rising sea levels since the majority of cashew plantations are in coastal regions. Aside from their economic value and unique taste, cashews are an important crop because of the tree’s ability to sequester carbon when grown in high-density environments. [3] Adoption of improved farming practices are helping to maintain production.
References:
[1] Cashew Nuts: Global Production Share by Country 2016,” Statista, accessed August 2, 2021, https://www-statista-com.proxy.library.cornell.edu/statistics/967708/global-cashew-nut-production-share/
[2] The Clipper, “Cashews in Vietnam Struggle with Climate Change and Diseases,” The Clipper Nuts and Dried Fruit Magazine, November 6, 2017, https://theclippermag.com/2017/11/06/cashews-vietnam-struggle-climate-change-diseases/.
[3] Thimmasamudram Raghavareddy Rupa, Raghavan Rejani, and Moodakare Gopalakrishna Bhat, “Impact of Climate Change on Cashew and Adaptation Strategies,” in Climate-Resilient Horticulture: Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies, ed. Harish Chandra Prasad Singh, et al., (India: Springer, 2013), 189–98, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-0974-4_17.
