The Goa government has reportedly announced that the fourth edition of the Goa Cashew Fest will be held from April 10 to 12 in Panaji in order to promote the state’s traditional cashew industry. Cashew is an intrinsic part of the state’s agricultural identity, rural economy, and rich heritage. Yet, ironically even as the announcement of the Cashew Fest was being made, a massive fire in Canacona destroyed nearly 100 cashew trees. Over the past few years, several orchards across Goa have reportedly been damaged or completely wiped out by fire. These recurring incidents raise a disturbing question of whether these fires are being deliberately set to make way for real estate development. A coordinated probe involving the forest department, agriculture department, and local authorities could help determine the causes behind these fires. Satellite imagery, land-use records, and post-fire development patterns should be studied to identify whether burnt plantation lands are subsequently diverted for construction or commercial use. If such a nexus exists, it would represent not just environmental damage but also a systematic erosion of Goa’s agricultural heritage.
