Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

@article{205424,
        author = {Madhura K and Ramakrishna .B. M and Raghavendra B and NIL},
        title = {SWADESHI IDEALS AND WOMEN LABOUR IN INDIA’S CASHEW INDUSTRY: PATHWAY TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {1},
        pages = {7872-7883},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=205424},
        abstract = {The Swadeshi movement, rooted in the principles of self-reliance, local production, and community welfare, continues to hold relevance in contemporary discussions on sustainable development in India. Agro-based industries, particularly the cashew industry, reflect these ideals through their reliance on indigenous resources, decentralized production systems, and labour-intensive processes. The interaction between Swadeshi ideals and women’s labour in India’s cashew industry, with a special focus on regional production patterns, employment conditions, and pathways toward a sustainable future. The study adopts a descriptive and analytical research design, relying primarily on secondary data collected from government reports, labour statistics, industry publications, and UGC-CARE listed academic studies. Conceptual analysis is used to examine Swadeshi philosophy, while state-wise and micro-level data are analysed through tables and graphical representations to assess women’s labour participation and production trends. Particular attention is given to the gendered nature of cashew processing, where women constitute the majority of the workforce. The findings reveal that the cashew industry significantly contributes to rural employment and women’s income security, thereby supporting Swadeshi-oriented local development. However, women workers face persistent challenges such as informal employment, low wages, occupational health risks, and limited access to social security and welfare benefits. State-wise analysis highlights uneven production and processing capacities, leading to regional disparities in employment opportunities and value addition. The cashew industry structurally aligns with Swadeshi ideals, achieving long-term sustainability requires integrating gender-sensitive labour policies, decentralized industrial development, and improved welfare mechanisms. Strengthening women-led cooperatives, formalizing employment, and promoting local value addition are identified as key pathways toward building a socially inclusive and sustainable cashew industry in India.},
        keywords = {Swadeshi ideals; Women’s labour; Cashew industry; Sustainable development; Rural employment; Gender equity; Agro-based industries},
        month = {June},
        }