Cluster Profile
1 Name Of Cluster Contai Cashew
2 Place Contai
3 District East Medinipur
4 State West Bengal
5 No of firms (by type) 250 
6 No. of workers 10000 
7 Turnover(Rs in Million's) Rs. 137 Million
8 Associations in cluster Contain Cashew Processing Association
District Industries Center, Purba Medinipore
NABARD
KVIC
State Bank of India
United Bank of India
Central Co-operative Banks
9 Major products Special Grade (W-180)
Double (W-240)
W-320
American (W-320)
JH (Special and Double half variety)
SP (Split- smaller than JH)
1/4th (Small Broken)
10 Specific and relevant technical institutions (R&D, Testing Lab accredited) NA
11 Major markets Kolkata
Varanasi
Lucknow
Kanpur
New Delhi
12 Major problems/prospects The traditional process is followed by the cluster and there is no recovery of CNSL in the roasting process
There is a lot of breakage of finished cashew kernels
The availability of raw cashew nut is seasonal and hence production is dependent on availability at competitive prices and market demand.
Only 6-8% of the requirement of raw cashew nuts is met from local sources and the rest is procured from outside states like Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya.
Cost of procurement of raw material is high due to the above mentioned reason.
Comparatively large units market their product at their own level.
There is no export from the cluster till date.
Workers are not adequately qualified.
The association lacks in providing inputs to the units related to their technological development, marketing information specially related to exports, raw material availability, etc.
There is a need to build social capital among the dynamic personalities.
13 Data source and updated on Diagnostic study report of Cashew Nut Cluster at Contai,East Medinipur, West Bengal, under Directorate of Cottage and Small Scale Industries, Government of West Bengal, by West Bengal Consultancy Organization Limited, Kolkata (WEBCOM).