<p>Mangaluru, DHNS: Separating cashew nuts from the fruit has traditionally been a labour-intensive and inefficient process, affecting quality and profitability.</p><p>Recognising these challenges, the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/indian-council-of-agricultural-research">Indian Council of Agricultural Research</a><strong> </strong>(ICAR)-Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR), Puttur in collaboration with ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Regional Station (CIAE), Coimbatore, took up a five-year research initiative to develop mechanised solutions for efficient cashew nut separation.</p><p>Starting in 2020, the research team conducted in-depth studies on the engineering properties of cashew apples and nuts, leading to the development of innovative separation technologies. The research team, led by Dr Manjunatha K (ICAR-DCR, Puttur), Dr Ravindra Naik (ICAR-CIAE, RS, Coimbatore), Dr D Balasubramanian (ICAR-DCR, Puttur), and Dr J Dinakara Adiga (Director, ICAR-DCR, Puttur), played a pivotal role in it.</p>.Bengaluru-based ICAR-NBAIR discovers 63 new insect species.<p>Through rigorous testing and multiple design iterations, three models were successfully developed. A pedal-operated cashew nut separator which is a manually operated machine with shear-cutting blades, achieving a separation capacity of 15 kg per hour with 83.0 % efficiency and minimal nut damage ( less than five per cent).</p><p>A portable semi-automatic cashew nut separator, which is a mechanised system with a twisting mechanism, offering a separation capacity of 35 kg per hour and 92.0 % efficiency.</p><p>Fully automatic three-in-one cashew nut separator, which is a high-capacity machine capable of nut separation, pulp extraction, and fibrous material removal, achieving 300 kg per hour capacity with more than 99% efficiency and only less than 1% nut damage.</p><p>These machines will reduce labour dependency, improve efficiency, and enhance productivity for cashew farmers, especially small and marginal growers.</p><p>Dr Manjunath K told DH, “we have applied for a patent for all three cashew nut separators. It was a collaborative work. In a major step toward commercialisation, ICAR-CIAE-DCR has signed an umbrella Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with M/s Phison Agritech Private Limited, Ramanagara, Karnataka, for technology licensing, on March 11."</p><p>"The work on fabrication of the machine has already begun. For machine purchases, farmers can contact Phison Agritech Pvt Ltd in Mayaganahalli, Ramanagara," he added.</p>
<p>Mangaluru, DHNS: Separating cashew nuts from the fruit has traditionally been a labour-intensive and inefficient process, affecting quality and profitability.</p><p>Recognising these challenges, the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/indian-council-of-agricultural-research">Indian Council of Agricultural Research</a><strong> </strong>(ICAR)-Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR), Puttur in collaboration with ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Regional Station (CIAE), Coimbatore, took up a five-year research initiative to develop mechanised solutions for efficient cashew nut separation.</p><p>Starting in 2020, the research team conducted in-depth studies on the engineering properties of cashew apples and nuts, leading to the development of innovative separation technologies. The research team, led by Dr Manjunatha K (ICAR-DCR, Puttur), Dr Ravindra Naik (ICAR-CIAE, RS, Coimbatore), Dr D Balasubramanian (ICAR-DCR, Puttur), and Dr J Dinakara Adiga (Director, ICAR-DCR, Puttur), played a pivotal role in it.</p>.Bengaluru-based ICAR-NBAIR discovers 63 new insect species.<p>Through rigorous testing and multiple design iterations, three models were successfully developed. A pedal-operated cashew nut separator which is a manually operated machine with shear-cutting blades, achieving a separation capacity of 15 kg per hour with 83.0 % efficiency and minimal nut damage ( less than five per cent).</p><p>A portable semi-automatic cashew nut separator, which is a mechanised system with a twisting mechanism, offering a separation capacity of 35 kg per hour and 92.0 % efficiency.</p><p>Fully automatic three-in-one cashew nut separator, which is a high-capacity machine capable of nut separation, pulp extraction, and fibrous material removal, achieving 300 kg per hour capacity with more than 99% efficiency and only less than 1% nut damage.</p><p>These machines will reduce labour dependency, improve efficiency, and enhance productivity for cashew farmers, especially small and marginal growers.</p><p>Dr Manjunath K told DH, “we have applied for a patent for all three cashew nut separators. It was a collaborative work. In a major step toward commercialisation, ICAR-CIAE-DCR has signed an umbrella Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with M/s Phison Agritech Private Limited, Ramanagara, Karnataka, for technology licensing, on March 11."</p><p>"The work on fabrication of the machine has already begun. For machine purchases, farmers can contact Phison Agritech Pvt Ltd in Mayaganahalli, Ramanagara," he added.</p>