State-led agricultural subsidies drive monoculture cultivar cashew expansion in northern Western Ghats, India.

ABSTRACT: Agricultural commodity production constitutes an important livelihood source for farmers but significantly contributes to tropical deforestation and biodiversity loss. While the socioecological effects of agricultural commodities such as palm oil, cocoa and coffee are well studied, the effects for commodities such as cashew (Anacardium occidentale) have received less attention. Global cultivated area for cashew increased rapidly from 526,250 ha in 1980 to ~5.9 million ha in 2018. India is the world's second largest cashew producer, with cashew farms often occurring adjacent to remnant forests. To mitigate deforestation for cashew expansion, it is necessary to understand present-day land use policies and management practices that drive this expansion. Through semi-structured interviews (n =

SUBMITTER: Rege A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9165800 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature