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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
Cashew is one of the important plantation crop introduced in India during the 16th centuary.Since the worlds demand for cashew kernels has been raising steadily for several years in the past. Conferring significant price increases the processing of cashew remains still a highly profitable industry. Further being the earliest and the largest supplier of cashew kernels in the world markets. India also enjoys a privileged position in the world. As a countable item in our foreign exchange earning it has come to occupy a place of prominence in its cultivation. Its cultivation is an important horticultural activity in the country. The main cashew growing states in the country are Kerala, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andrapradesh, Goa and Pondicherry. Cashew was introduced roughly about five hundred years ago by the Portuguese for the purpose of checking soil erosion. Cashew grow in bean- shaped shells attached to fruit like cashew apples. The stem grows at the end opposite to the nut A cashew nut is about 2.4cm long. Its shell is about 3mm, having a soft leathery outer skin and thin hard inner skin.
Cashew spreads widely. It comes up well up to a height of 700 meters and increases well near the sea coast. However, it is grown successfully at places which are away from the sea coast also. Cashew is a sun loving tree and does not allow excessive shade. It does best with long sunshine hours throughout the year. It requires a lot of sunlight uniformly distributed over its entire leaves, in order to complete its reproductive cycle and to give a satisfactory yield. Regarding the soil requirement of cashew crop, it is found to grow from the poorest to the richest on stony ground as well as in the sandy tracks but, performs badly in heavy day or lime stone, water logged condition, ill drained soils or in strong saline water bearing stratum. For maximum productivity cashew prefers good well drained, aerated sandy loam soil with adequate moisture. However these soils are poor in fertility. Therefore cashew trees need to be fertilized regularly in these areas. Regarding the time of sowing, June to October is the optimum season. Cashew has two parts, the fleshy sweat cashew apple and cashew nut. This is one of the better taste, low sugar and fat and higher and better quality protein. While most nuts have saturated fatty acids, cashew has 47% fat, of this 82% is unsaturated fatty acids free from cholesterol. Cashew kernel contains 21% of proteins which is at par with soya been and ground nuts quantitatively
but quantity wise. Its proteins are more on the side of milk, eggs and meat. It contains amino acids in the right proportion for the human body. Also at present cashew is considered as snacks, especially a cocktail snack and they globally about 85% of cashew can be used as an ingredient in cooking cereals, bakery, confectionery, chocolates, cookies, ice-creams etc.,
Features of cashew Industry:The major features of the cashew industry are as follows: 1. Cashew factories are located mostly in rural and backward areas. 2. Cashew factories use labour intensive technique of production. 3. Female labour in cashew industries contribute to about 90% of the total work force. 4. The cashew factory is an important foreign exchange earner. 5. The cashew industry does not necessarily require electric power for operations. It is only a packing stage that normal power is used. 6. The cashew processing industry does not generate any waste. The shell of cashew is used as fuel.
Advantages of cashew industry:There are some important advantages in the cashew nut processing industry. They are as follows,
1. The cashew nut industry helps to remove poverty by generating rural income. 2. The cashew nut industries provide gain full employment opportunities to rural women. 3. Cashew kernel is one of the export oriented commodities. This increases the income and welfare of the people. 4. Increase in employment of cashew nut industry also improves the economic and social status of the people.
Disadvantages of cashew industry:The cashew nut factories have disadvantages like those given below.
1. According to government Act the cashew industries must provide the
workers with gloves to protect their hands. But most of the factories donot provide gloves to the workers. This after the skin and health of the workers.
2. Women workers in the cashew nut industry are kept under conditions of
Statement of the problems:In India, the study of working condition is of recent origin. Working conditions are associated with the industrialization. In general working
condition consists of working process, labour problems, working hours, sickness, healthcare, education, culture and recreation facilities. Shortage of raw cashew nut is the major problem. The cashew industry was initially dependent largely on imported raw cashew nuts. The growth of exports is not on the expected line due to stiff competition, from other countries. The real problem arose with the emergence and development of the cashew industry.
Objectives of the study:1. To study the general process of cashew nuts in the study area. 2. To analyse the production, sales and profit of cashew nut industries in the study area. 3. To analyse the working conditions of cashew workers in Kaliyal village. 4. To suggest ways and measures to solve the problems of cashew workers.
Methodology:The study is both descriptive and an analytical study in nature. The different process of cashew nuts have been identified and described. The descriptions are based on journals, magazines, and text books. However the field study has been restricted to 5 industries to which the researcher belongs. Only 50 samples were selected at random. According to
convenience sampling method to study their problems, employing an interview schedule. The sample selected represents all the categories of workers (i.e.) Roasters, Shellers, Peelers, Graders. Among the nine cashew factories in Kaliyal village the researches has selected only five units. Detailed discussions were held with the managers and union leaders.
Sources of data:The study is based on primary as well as secondary data. The primary data have been collected from the workers of Kaliyal village of Kanyakumari district. The details regarding various process of cashew nuts area profile had been collected as secondary data from journals, magazines, newspaper and books.
Statistical tools:Statistical methods are the mechanical process, especially designs to facilitate and analyze the large body quantitative data. The aim of statistical method is to interpret the completed data for the purpose of analysis. The present study has employed percentages, to analyze the data from the records of the selected cashew nut industries have been calculated for the profit to make the study quit meaningful.
Limitations:The present study has the following limitations; 1. Some data are not 100% accurate. 2. This study is confined to the cashew nut processing industries only. 3. The field study has been made in the selected units only. 4. Time limit for the study is also a drawback of this project. 5. Since convenience sampling was selected, findings and observations from the primary data may not hold well in a wider context.
Scheme of study:This project consists of five chapters. The first chapter is an introductory chapter, where, brief introduction about the cashew nut has been given .The chapter two is devoted to the processing of cashew nuts in the study area. In the chapter three, production, sales and profit of cashew nut industries in the selected area are given. Fourth chapter deals with the working condition of the cashew nut industry in the study area, i.e.; the data analysis. The researchers findings, suggestions and concluding observations are given in chapter five.
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Occupation:The main occupation of the people is agriculture. People cultivate commercial and non-commercial crops. The commercial crops are banana, coconuts, tapioca, cashewnut and so-on. Rice cultivation and vegetables cultivation also form the major items. Saving Pattern:Saving is the outcome of income. In Kaliyal village a majority of the population are landless. They are keeping account with the post office for the benefit of their children. But the land lords have accounts in post office as well as in banks.
Stages in cashew nut Processing:Cashew nut processing lowers all the stages from the drying of raw cashew nuts to the packing of processed kernels. We shall divide the entire process into 8 stages and in each stage we shall examine the purpose and methods currently employed. 1. Drying of raw cashew nuts:Drying seeks to reduce the moisture content to facilitate storage without rapid deterioration. Moisture loss at this stage ranges between three to ten
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percent depending on the time of harvest. Storage in well ventilated warehouses is also a prerequisite for good yields. 2. Roasting / Streaming:It is employed to facilitate the removal of the shell in the subsequent process. (A) Roasting:Roasting could be done in two ways. Drum Roasting:Roasting is one of the oldest and most widely use methods. The raw nuts are passed through a heated drum where it catches fire. The whole process takes about two minutes. About 8 to 10 bags can be roasted in one hour. This is one of the cheapest available methods through shell oil recovery in not possible. Oil (Plant) Roasting:In this method dried nuts conditioned with water are passed through a hot oil (Cashew nut Shell Liquid CNSL) bath by conveyer buckets shell oil can be recovered at this point and also later by crushing the shell. However this method involves higher initial investment. Moreover, unless the raw nuts are of good quality and well dried, the colour of the processed kernels would be poor. This method is generally not being used now.
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(B)
nuts are steam Cooked at about 120 -140lbs/sq inch pressure. About six bags can be cooked in an hour. Shell oil can be extracted in later stages by crushing. 3. Removal of the shell:(A) Shelling:Roasted ( drum or oil roasted ) nuts are shelled by workers using wooden mallets. We can see the shelling process from the following picture. (B) Cutting:Steamed nuts are cut by workers with blades mounted on wooden tables. At this point a comparison of roasting / shelling and steaming / cutting is warranted. The latter scores as far as pollution control is concerned and is more productive. When the nuts are of fairly large size and well dried. Shell oil recovery is also possible. However, it involves higher initial investment, higher maintenance costs, extra drying of the raw nuts and is counterproductive when the nuts are small in size. Hence the cheaper and more convenient drum roasting / shelling combination is more widely used.
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4. Drying and cooling of shelled kernels:The shelled kernels are dried in a Borma (Oven) at 80 to 90 degrees centigrade. The process takes about six to twelve hours depending on the kernels and type of Bormaused. The old methods such as the 8 feet, 12feet and the Thattu. Borma are direct application of heat generated using cashew shell as fud. The Blower Borma in which hot air is blown into the chamber where the kernels are kept and the Electric Borma are recent arrivals. Though the older methods cause greater roasting, they are still widely used because of the higher investments and with the maintenance costs associated with the recent innovations. Bormas which use combinations of old and new methods can also be found in the industry. 5. Peeling:The testa is peeled off and initial grading as whole and brokers and by colour is done. The Peeling worker has to be experienced and skilled if breakages are to be kept to a minimum. 6. Grading:The peeled cashew kernels are graded according to its size, colour and its maturity. There are around 22 grades of cashew kernels and a specification of each grade is laid down by the cashew export promotion council.
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7. Filling:The graded kernels are filled in 25Ib tin containers after infusing carbon dioxide to prevent infestation. 8. Packing:Two 25Ib tins are packed in a corrugated box and strapped. Two whole processes takes place about six days from roasting / steaming to packing and is highly labour intensive.
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CHAPTER III THE PRODUCTION, MARKETING AND PROFIT OF CASHEWNUT INDUSTRIES IN THE STUDY AREA.
Kaliyal Town Panchayath is a pioneer is cashew industries than any other panchayath in Kanyakumari district. This industry mainly depends upon female workers. In all the five industries peelers and shellers are getting fixed rate of wage shellers get Rs.8.60 per kg and peelers get Rs.9.30 per kg. None of the industries are having their own machines for packing the processed cashew nuts. After the processing of cashew nut is over it is sent to their Head office for packing. The individual production sales and profit of all the five units are given below by way of Bar charts.
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only 9 were females and the remaining were males. But now there is about 142 workers. among this 142 workers,130 were females and the remaining 12 were males. To protect the surrounding from population, a chimney at a height of hundred and thirty feet was built. The industry buys raw cashew nuts from Thoothukudi and exports it to Arabian counties. Production of cashew from Kattavilai cashew industry. Year 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Units 85000 75000 60000 55000 25000
Source : Primary Data The above table shows that there is a decrease of production in every year. The researcher founds that the reason for such decrease of production is due to the emergence of new units every year.
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Literary Status:
Education is the most important factor for the human population to transform the human population into human capital. The literary status of the respondents is given below;
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Table: 4.1 Literary Status of the respondents Sl. NO 1 2 3 4 Qualification 1-5 6 - 10 11 12 Above 12 Total Source: primary data It can be observed from the table 4.1 that out of the fifty respondents only 2% of the respondents had studied above 12th. Further 34% of the sample respondents have elementary education. Thus the above table shows that majority of the respondents are educated only up to higher secondary level. There lack of study is due to poverty. No. of workers 17 30 2 1 50 Percentage 34 60 4 2 100
Marital Status:
The marital status of the sample respondents are given below. Table 4.2 Marital Status or the sample respondents Sl. No 1 2 Marital Status Married Unmarried Total Source: primary data No. of Workers 28 22 50 Percentage 56 44 100
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The above table reveals that out of the fifty workers interviewed 28 workers are married and 22 workers is unmarried, which constitutes 56% and 44% respectively The majority of the workers are married and they are mainly doing this job to meet the education expenses of their children and also to meet their family expenses. The unmarried suggested that they are mainly working to meet their marriage expenses.
Nature of Job:
The main findings regarding the nature of the job of the respondents are given below Table 4.3 Nature of job of the respondents Sl. NO 1 2 3 4 5 Nature of Job Roasting Shelling Peeling Grading Packing Total Source: primary data No. of Workers 10 13 16 11 --50 Percentage 20 26 32 22 --100
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The table 4.3 reveals that out of 50 respondents 16 respondents are working in the peeling section, which constitutes 32% and 13 respondents are working in the shelling section, which constitutes 26% and 11 respondents are in the grading section, which constitutes 20% The researcher founds that majority of the respondents are working in the peeling section due to the high wage rate.
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The above table reveals that 96% of the respondents feel the wage rate as moderate. Two respondents feels that wage rate is very bad and they suggest that they are not satisfied with their present wages.
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Table 4.7 Earning of bonus per year Sl. No 1 2 3 4 Bonus (In Rs) 2000 2500 3000 3500 Total Source: primary data All the five cashew nut factories which is studied provides bonus every year. Table 4.7 reveals that 20 respondents which constitute 40% of the sample respondents are getting 2000 Rs as bonus, per year. 7 respondents are getting bonus of Rs 3000 per year. The researchers found out that majority of the workers are getting Rs 2000 as bonus per year. No. of workers 20 12 7 11 50 Percentage 40 24 14 22 100
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1 2
50 ---
100 ---
50 ---
100 ---
50 ----
100 ---
--50
--100
50
100
50
100
50
100
50
100
Source: primary data NB: % (Percentage) It is evident from the above table 4.8 that all the units selected for study is providing good working conditions. All the workers are fully satisfied with their working conditions. Unfortunately none of the units are providing gloves facilities to protect the workers skin.
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Table 4.9 Opinion about the medical facilities to the workers Sl. No 1 2 3 Opinion Highly Satisfied Satisfied Not Satisfied Total Source: primary data The table 4.9 shows that, out of the fifty workers selected, 46 workers were satisfied with the medical facilities provided to them. On the other hand, 8% of the respondents are not satisfied with the medical facilities. No. of workers --46 4 50 Percentage --92 8 100
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Table 4.10 shows that all the sample respondents agreed that they are given advances for their emergencies. But they are getting only Rs 2000 to Rs 3000 as advances. The workers suggested that this amount is given for the purpose of canvassing and motivating the other workers.
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Table 4.13 Number of working days Sl. No Working Days (weekly) 1 2 3 4 Days 5 Days 6days Total Source: primary data Table 4.13 reveals that out of 50 sample respondents, 40 workers are working for six days in a week. Ten sample workers work for 5 days in a week. Anyhow, if there is any shortage of raw materials, the number of working days will be reduced by the owners. --10 40 50 --20 80 100 No. of workers Percentage
Working hours:
The total working hours of the workers are listed in the below table. Table 4.14 Working hours: Sl. No 1 2 3 Hours worked 7 Hours 8 Hours 9 Hours Total Source: primary data No. of workers --30 20 50 Percentage --60 40 100
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Table 4.14 shows that out of fifty sample respondents, 30 are working eight hours in a day and 20 are working nine hours in a day. The researcher founds that majority of the respondents are working for eight hours in a day and none of them are working for seven hours in a day.
Table 4.15 Opinion about their leisure time Sl. No 1 2 Opinion Yes No Total Source: primary data Table 4.15 shows that all the sample respondents are provided with break in between their work. But the workers suggested that the break time is not No. of workers 50 --50 Percentage 100 --100
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enough. Hence it is advised to the owners that the break time should be extended to motivate the workers.
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Table 4.17 Membership in trade union: Sl. No 1 2 Opinion Yes No Total Source: primary data Table 4.17 shows that among the fifty samples selected for the study, fourty are having the trade union memberships and ten workers had not yet joined the trade union. The majority of the workers had joined the trade union to claim their rights. No. of workers 40 10 50 Percentage 80 20 100
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Table 4.18 shows that, out of the fifty respondents 30 workers are not satisfied with the overall facilities provided by the factory. 20 sample respondents are satisfied with the facilities provided by the factory. Since majority of the sample workers are not satisfied with the overall facilities in the factory, it is suggested that the management should take some suitable measurers like increasing the wages, bonus, advances, etc; to satisfy the workers.
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5. The government should punish those cashew processors who do not introduce welfare programmes such as healthy working conditions in the industry and prompt the regular payment of bonus. At present 25% of the wages paid to the laborers form the annual bonus. This system should be changed with immediate effect. 6. The government should take some measures to confirm that weather the minimum wages act is followed by the owners. 7. Advances to the workers should be increased. 8. The government should take suitable steps to increase the saving behavior of the workers. 9. The owners should take measures to improve the health and hygienic conditions of the laborers in the factory. 10.Employees State Insurance scheme should also be introduced to the workers in the cashew industries. 11.Since none of the units are providing gloves, it is suggested that the management should provide gloves to the workers to protect their skins and it will be a motivational factor to the workers.
The labour welfare officers should visit the factories regularly to confirm that the workers are provided with the gloves and masks.
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12.The system of payment should be changed from weekly wages to monthly wages and the workers security should be assured throughout the year. 13.Every industry must develop the medical and the ESI benefits. 14.Since most of the workers working in these industries are from poor families, the financial assistance should be provided to the workers in the form of high wages, medical allowances, Travelling expenses etc., 15.The government and the local authorities welfare policies should be extended to these workers to improve their future life.
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Conclusion:
Mostly, the women workers are coming for the job to develop their life and meet the expenses of the childrens education. The unmarried female workers are mainly working to meet their marriage expenses. Unfortunately they are not much satisfied with their job. So under these circumstances the government and the management should take necessary steps to solve the problems of the factory workers. Both the central and the state governments should give proper attention towards these industries to protect these industries and the workers. The result of the study is highly beneficial to the cashew nut industries in Kaliyal village, and is also useful for the other cashew nut industries in general for improving their overall performance.