Page 7 - AWA Vol.36-No.5

IGS CROP PROTECTION

AGRITECH INNOVATION MAKES CONTROL OF CASHEW ITS CULTIVATION

ENVIRONMENT GROWTH AND DISEASE CONTROL

is smooth with a thick waxy cuticle and a As a member of the plant family Anac-
pronounced midrib and main veins. ardiaceae the cashew tree has some
The numerous flowers are borne in interesting and well known relatives
panicles at the ends of branches. Inflo- including highly useful ones like man-
DR. TERRY MABBETT rescences consist of male and hermaph- go (Mangifera indica) and pistachio
rodite, scented flowers and cream-co- (Pistacia vera) but also some potentially
For a long time cashew (Anacardium poisonous ones like poison ivy (Toxico-
occidentale) was a niche crop but is now loured when they open before turning dendron radicans) and poison oak (Toxi-
pink to red. Fertilised flowers develop
mainstream with cashew nuts as a high- into the kidney-shaped true fruit (the codendron diversilobum).
ly valued export commodity for an in- nut) about 3 cm long and with a grey-
creasing number of countries. Main pe- brown shell. This true fruit which looks Cultivation, yield and
IGS was founded in 2013, to develop culiarity of the cashew is trees bearing and feels like a seed is inserted into a production
revolutionary Industry 4.0 solutions in true fruit (the nuts) which look and feel fleshy receptacle commonly called the
the global agritech and commercial like true seed. However, the cashew nut A typical cashew tree will begin to
spaces markets. is the botanically defined fruit which de- ‘cashew apple’. Indeed when detached bear fruit in its third or fourth year with
velops from a soft-tissue receptacle (the from the fleshy receptacle the classic tree maturity and maximum fruit yield
kidney shape of the hard cashew nut
so-called accessory fruit) and which can means it could easily be mistaken for a attained by the seventh year, provid-
easily be mistaken for a true fruit. ed conditions are conducive to good
cables, cable-trays and ethernet. It can ‘bean’ – the true seed of many legumi- growth. Average yield of cashew nuts
be assembled and reconfigured on the nous plant species. produced by mature trees is 7 to 11 kg
fly by non-qualified staff. Every light, LEARN MORE AT HYPERLINK per tree per annum. Trees can live for
sensor, camera and motion-tracker bit.ly/IGSGrowth Cashew apples are pear shaped, thin-
attached to the grid is IoT-enabled, skinned and red to yellow in colour. Ca- over 50 years but most will only yield for
such that it can receive commands and shew apple is rich in Vitamins A and C up to 20 years.
monitor behaviours: each node simply and is utilised in producing countries Cashew is truly tropical in origin, dis-
clips onto the lightweight busbars and Circle 5 on enquiry card to make a variety of food and drink in-
can be moved at will, without even a tribution and growing conditions. Re-
screwdriver. cluding preserves, chutney, vinegar and quired temperature is typically between
As an agritech innovator we make alcoholic drinks. Trees attain a maximum 24°C and 28°C. Trees are frost-prone and
revolutionary controlled-environment height of up to 12 m and possess an eco- rapidly killed by extended periods of
growth products including a vertical ADVERTISERS’ nomic lifespan of 25 years after which
farm-in-a-box and retro-fit Growth INDEX low temperature. Optimal growth occurs
Stations for low-rise installations. We they are replaced in commercial plant- in deep well drained soils but within an
also make a Supplementary Lighting Aviagen ....Inside Cover (English) ings. extended range of soil pH (4.2 to 8.7).
grid to extend the growing day 12 Cashew is native to northern South However, cashew will establish and grow
months of the year in greenhouses and Cobb ...........Inside Cover (Arabic) America, Central America and the Ca- in sandy, poorly-fertile soils and where
poly tunnels. These platforms are 100%
Internet of Things enabled and powered ribbean islands but is now naturalized
by a 3-tier Artificial Intelligence back- Frigor Tec GmbH .......................13 throughout the lowland tropics. Cashew
end to deliver Total Control Environment was first introduced into Mozambique
Agriculture (“TCEA”) offering dramatic Goweil ..........................................9 and then India in the sixteenth century
productivity benefits: 2-3x yield with We supply agritech solutions direct by Portuguese explorers and traders
quality and consistency, using up to 50% to growers, food producers and IGS ................................................3
less energy and up to 80% less labour. governments around the world. We Ovate to oblong shaped leaves for planting in coastal regions to miti-
Our Intelligent Grid system creates supply our Intelligent Grid platform Saudi Agriculture ...................... 16 are leathery and shiny with gate erosion. Cashew was subsequent-
Smart Spaces by bringing an elegant, via partners such as facilities managers prominent midrib and veins. ly spread within these countries with
customer-branded grid to replace lighting designers into new-build Priya Chemicals ...........................2 the aid of elephants that ate the bright
conventional high-voltage networks of construction projects or for retrofit. cashew apples along with the attached
ADVERTISE IN THE The cashew tree nuts. The nut was too hard to digest and
later expelled with the droppings. It was
Cashew is an evergreen tree in the not until the nineteenth century that ca-
ARAB WORLD plant family Anacardiaceae and primari- shew estates and plantations were plant-
ly cultivated for its cashew nuts. Trees are ed around the world. The cashew tree
AGRIBUSINESS fast growing and spreading with prolific may well be a New World native but is
branching from the main trunk to form a now cultivated throughout the tropics
MAGAZINE AND characteristically dome-shaped canopy with the top five producers - Vietnam,
or crown. Foliage is thinly borne and es- Nigeria, India, Cote d’Ivoire and Philip-
PROMOTE YOUR sentially limited to leaves on the ends of pines – in Africa or Asia. Other important
branches. Individual leaves are borne on producers include Mozambique, Kenya Cashew inflorescence at the
PRODUCTS petioles (leaf stalks) with a swollen base. and Tanzania. branch tip bearing pinkish-
They are ovate in shape, leathery and coloured flowers and developing
shiny dark green in colour. Leaf surface fruits at the same time.
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