Palasa

Palasa–Kasibugga is a town in Srikakulam district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality and the mandal headquarters of Palasa mandal. It is located near to the National Highway 5 between Srikakulam and Berhampur . The city is nicknamed as White Gold City because of cashew processing industries.GeographyPalasa is located at 18.46N 84.25E. It has an average elevation of 38 meters (127 feet). The town has an area of 32.75km2.Demographicscensus of India, Palasa-Kasibugga had a population of 57,507 with 14,195 households. The total population constitute, 28,131 males and 29,376 females —a sex ratio of 1044 females per 1000 males. 5,609 children are in the age group of 0–6 years, of which 2,887 are boys and 2,722 are girls —a ratio of 943 girls per 1000 boys. The average literacy rate stands at 75.68% with 39,276 literates, significantly higher than the state average of 67.41%.EconomyAgro exports There are more than 350 cashew processing industries around Palasa town, the highest amongst the northern coastal districts. These twin towns are the largest cashew producing towns of Andhra Pradesh and are among the largest processing centres in India. The cashew industry provides direct and indirect employment to about 15,000 people in the surrounding areas. Palasa-Kasibugga Municipality is called as White Gold City because in Palasa Kasibugga Cashew processing industries are one of the promising sector producing valuable commodity exported to Gulf, European and Western countries.