Panaji: The cashew season commenced in Pernem taluka, with early fruit beginning to appear in orchards and even on trees dotting the coastal belt. While the harvest is not yet in full swing, farmers confirmed that plucking has started in select areas, marking an early Feb onset of the cashew cycle.“This is more or less the same time cashew trees begin fruiting in Pernem, and initial yields were modest, with commercially viable quantities for juice extraction and feni production yet to pick up,” said a farmer.Cashew apples, used to produce Goa’s iconic liquor feni, require sufficient volume for pressing. Farmers indicated that while villagers began consuming the early fruits, the quantities are not yet adequate for large-scale juice extraction.Weather conditions in the run-up to this season were described as “normal” for cashew flowering, unlike mango crops that faced fluctuations. But farmers cautioned that rising temperatures could impact the duration and quality of the harvest.“Once temperatures cross 34–35 degrees celsius, the flowers can get burnt and pollination suffers,” a grower said. “Sustained moderate weather through the coming weeks will be crucial to ensure a longer fruiting period.”Traditionally, cashew harvesting and feni production extended until mid-May, around May 15–20. But in recent years, the season shortened considerably. Last year, farmers said the harvest wound down by the first week of April, reducing the window for feni production.Farmers observed slightly quicker fruiting this time compared to interior areas, though the varieties planted remain largely the same across Goa’s villages.The difference is attributed to proximity to the sea, which can influence microclimatic conditions.“The true scale of this year’s cashew season in Goa will become clearer in the coming weeks as other talukas begin harvesting. For now, we are hopeful that moderate temperatures will allow the season to run longer than last year, so that a robust feni-making cycle can unfold in the months ahead,” said another farmer.
