PANJIM, Jan. 23 -- The journey of cashews in Goa began nearly 450 years ago when the Portuguese missionaries brought in the cashew plant from Brazil to prevent soil erosion in the State.

In Circa 2023, Goa faces a unique challenge. There is land but not enough under cultivation. Moreover, exports of cashew, which has by far the largest potential for export earnings, as well as playing a critical role in Goa's economic value chain, are below optimum.

A year after the State reported nearly a 50 per cent drop in the annual cashew yield, a unique hackathon 'Hack-A-Cashew', is underway in order to put the spotlight on one of Goa's most popular cash crops and examine novel ways and means to boost the cashew output in Goa.

The one-of-a-kind h...