The present study was conducted with the objectives, to study the personal socio economic and psychological characteristics of the organic cashewnut growers, to determine the extent of use of organic cashewnut cultivation practices by the cashewnut growers, to know the association of personal, socio-economic and psychological characteristics of the cashewnut growers with extent of use of organic practices, to identify training needs of growers about cashewnut cultivation in general and organic cashewnut cultivation in particular and to know the constraints and seek suggestions of cashew nut growers about organic cashewnut cultivation practices. The study was undertaken in Goa state. In all, 200 organic cashewnut growers from four tahsils of Goa state were contacted. The data were collected with the help of structured interview schedule. Personal interview technique was used for data collection. The extent of use of organic cultivation practices was the dependent variable, which was measured with the help of specially developed scale. It was observed that the average age of the organic cashewnut growers was 48 years. They had average 7th standard education. The average land holding was 2.74 ha., with 23 years of farming experience. Majority of them had farming as a major occupation and average annual income was Rs. 79,767/-.They had put up average 2.30ha area under organic cultivation with average number of 444 trees. The average age of orchard was 19 years and their average cashewnut yield was 8.3 quintals. The average score regarding information seeking behaviour was 17.5, infrastructural facilities 27.5, risk orientation 12.7, economic motivation 14.72 and market orientation 12.53. Majority of them were in medium knowledge level about organic cashewnut cultivation practices.

Keyword: Organic cashewnut cultivation; Cashew nut growers; Organic practices.