ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research (ICAR-DCR)

Native of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is Eastern Brazil, and it was ntroduced to India during the 16th Century by the Portuguese. Research on cashew in India was first initiated in the early 1950s. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research 950s. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) sanctioned adhoc schemes for Research Centres located at Kottarakkara (Kerala), Ullal (Karnataka), Bapatla (Andhra Pradesh), Daregaon (Assam) and Vengurla (Maharashtra). In 1971, ICAR also sanctioned an All India Coordinated Spices and Cashew Improvement Project (AICS & CIP) with its headquarters located at ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod. The CPCRI Regional Station, Vittal, Karnataka was given the mandate to carry out research work on cashew, while, four centres under different Universities (viz., Bapatla, Vridhachalam, Anakkayam and Vengurla) were assigned the research component on cashew under AICS & CIP. During the V and VI plan periods, three more Centres (viz., Bhubaneswar, Jhargram and Chintamani) came under the fold of AICS & CIP and with shifting of work of Anakkayam Centre to Madakkathara. The recommendations made by the Quinquennial Review Team (QRT) constituted by ICAR in 1982, the working group on Agricultural Research and Education constituted by the Planning Commission for VII Plan Proposals and the Task Force on Horticulture constituted by ICAR resulted in the establishment of National Research Centre for Cashew (NRCC) at Puttur on 18th June, 1986. During the VII Plan period, AICS & CIP was bifurcated into two separate projects, one on cashew and another on spices. The headquarters of independent AICRP on Cashew was shifted to the newly established NRCC, Puttur in 1986. NRCC was upgraded and renamed as Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR) by ICAR on 23rd March, 2009 under XI Plan. At present, the AICRP on Cashew is operating at 14 Centres distributed in major cashew growing regions of the country. The prefix “ICAR” was added before the Institute name since 2014 according to the instructions of ICAR, New Delhi. The institute is conducting and coordinating research on different aspects of cashew such as germplasm collection and conservation, crop improvement, crop production, crop protection, post harvest technology and transfer of technology. Accomplishing self-sufficiency in raw cashewnut production and maintaining the premier position as the largest producer, processor and exporter at the global level. To promote overall growth through the enhancement of production and productivity in cashew. To undertake strategic, basic and applied research for enhancing productivity, quality, processing efficiency and value addition of cashew. To serve as National Repository of genetic resources and scientific information on cashew. To coordinate All India Coordinated Research Project on Cashew for addressing location and region specific problems. To promote capacity building through transfer of technology and consultancy services to stakeholders. Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR) is located in Puttur, a town in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. Puttur is well connected by road and rail. The Puttur town is at a distance of 50 kms from Mangalore, 60 kms from Kasaragod, 210 kms from Mysore and 325 kms from Bengaluru. The Mangalore (Bajpe) Airport is at 52 Kms from Puttur. The campus of DCR is in a place called “Mottethadka” located 5 km away from Puttur bus stand. From Puttur bus stand frequent auto service is also available to DCR. The ‘Kabaka Puttur’ railway station is 6 kms from DCR with connectivity to Bangalore and Mangalore. The Experimental Station, Shantigodu of DCR is located at a distance of 13 kms from the DCR campus ...view more