Cashew farming in Pudukottai district, once a thriving agricultural activity, is witnessing a downturn, with farmers struggling to cope with shrinking profit margins and declining production. Regions such as Gandharvakottai and Adhanakottai together account for nearly 5,000 acres of cashew cultivation in the district. However, a major setback came in the aftermath of Cyclone Gaja in 2018, which destroyed vast stretches of cashew plantations. Since cashew trees take five to six years to begin yielding and can remain productive for over 30 years, the loss has had long-term consequences. Many farmers are still struggling to recover. Murugesan, a farmer from Gandarvakottai, said he once owned 10 acres of cashew trees, but the cyclone reduced his holdings by half. “Now, I have only five acres left,” he said. On an average, an acre yields about 10 sacks of cashew nuts, each weighing around 80 kg. However, falling prices had eroded profits significantly. While a sack fetched up to ₹16,000 last year, prices had now dropped to about ₹12,000. Farmers point to a stark disparity between farm-gate and retail prices. “Traders buy from us at around ₹150 a kg. After processing, they sell it for ₹800 to ₹1,000 a kg,” said G.S. Dhanapathy, State General Secretary, Farmer’s Forum of India, and added that now buyers were reluctant to purchase even at ₹150 a kg. The influx of imported cashew nuts from African countries had weakened the demand for locally grown produce, pushing prices downward. In addition, global factors such as the ongoing West Asia conflict have disrupted markets and added to farmers’ woes. Cashew cultivation in the region is largely rain-fed and the crop requires relatively less water compared to alternatives. This leaves farmers with limited options to switch to other crops, making them dependent on cashew despite declining returns. Farmers have been consistently urging the government to establish a processing and export centre in the region. According to Mr. Dhanapathy, such a facility would enable value addition, improve farmers’ income, and create employment opportunities, particularly for women.