Kollam, the Ashtamudi district that remains India's largest processed cashew exporter

Background

The Kollam district administration's profile records that the district is naturally veined by the Ashtamudi lake, a massive multi-branched water body, and that this lake together with the Kollam canal gives Kollam a place of prominence in the waterway systems of the country. Administratively the district has two revenue divisions, Kollam and Punalur, with three taluks each under them. The profile records that Kollam has been the centre of the cashew industry in Kerala from the time of the Portuguese in the 16th century, and that with hundreds of working cashew factories the district still continues to be the largest processed cashew exporter in India. Neendakara and Thangasseri are named as the two fishing harbours and ports in Kollam, supporting a marine industry. The soil is described as varyingly loamy, laterite and forest at the coastal regions, and the district has a large forest cover on its eastern side with eco tourism projects such as Shenduruni, Thenmala and Palaruvi.