Puttur: ICAR’s DCR and CIAE team up to develop three models of cashew nut separator

Puttur: ICAR’s DCR and CIAE team up to develop three models of cashew nut separator

Mangalore Today News Network

Puttur, April 5, 2025: Separating cashew nuts from the fruit has traditionally been a labour-intensive and inefficient process, affecting quality and profitability.

Recognising these challenges, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

These machines will reduce labour dependency, improve efficiency, and enhance productivity for cashew farmers, especially small and marginal growers.

Dr Manjunath K said, “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."

"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.

Courtesy: Deccan Herald