Cashew trees bear fruit after about three years, mature at seven to eight, and stay economic for 20–25 years. Plantations are poorly managed: yields are 2–3 kg of raw nuts per tree (0.4–0.6 t/ha) against a world average near 1.0 t/ha, so incomes are low.
The AFOLU intensification programme improves crop feeding and canopy management, ameliorates soils to cut nitrous oxide (N₂O) and raises soil organic matter and soil organic carbon (SOC). Climate-smart agriculture and sustainable agricultural land management activities form the basis of the Project Idea Note (PIN) and Project Design Document (PDD). Sequestered SOC is analysed as a carbon asset, with training and advisory services alongside.