Coimbatore: TNAU Hand Operated Farm Tool for Removing Mother Shoots of Sugarcane. Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) is a one of the important methods of sugarcane cultivation. Removal of mother shoots is one of the main principles of SSI to get uniform tillers and it will ensure more number of tillers and millable canes per plant.
Coimbatore: TNAU Hand Operated Farm Tool for Removing Mother Shoots of Sugarcane. Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) is a one of the important methods of sugarcane cultivation. Removal of mother shoots is one of the main principles of SSI to get uniform tillers and it will ensure more number of tillers and millable canes per plant. Plant should be cut just one inch above the ground after the establishment of sugarcane seedling.
Conventionally, secateurs, knives and sickle are used for cutting mother shoots of sugarcane. These existing tools are not popular because the agricultural labourers need to bend down and hold the stem to remove the mother shoot of sugarcane. While removing the mother shoot, probability is more for injuring the hands and eyes. The hands may be injured due to presence of sharp spines on the stem or the serrated margin of the leaves or tools. The eye may be injured due to the hit of the leaves. Labour gets back pain during cutting the sugarcane of mother shoot and this operation gives low efficiency and needs more time and cost.
Considering the above problems and improve the efficiency of farm workers a hand operated farm tool for removing mother shoots of sugarcane crop was invented by Dr.P.Kamaraj, Assistant Professor (Farm Machinery) and Professor A.Tajuddin in the Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kumulur for the benefit of farmers and filed a patent application during 2013.
The Intellectual Property of India has granted patent (No.351648 dt.16.11.2020) for the invention of “Hand operated farm tool for removing mother shoots of sugarcane crop†for 20 years (2013-33). The tool consists of secateurs, operating lever, main frame and handle. The weight of the tool is less than 1 kg. Hence, it can be operated by a single woman in standing position without any difficulty. It will reduce the cost of cultivation and human drudgery. Also it helps to improve uniform tillering and increased number of tillers and millable canes per plant. By using this tool, sugarcane mother shoots are cut more than 800 numbers per hr approximately. This tool will save 50 per cent of labour and time.
Conventionally, secateurs, knives and sickle are used for cutting mother shoots of sugarcane. These existing tools are not popular because the agricultural labourers need to bend down and hold the stem to remove the mother shoot of sugarcane. While removing the mother shoot, probability is more for injuring the hands and eyes. The hands may be injured due to presence of sharp spines on the stem or the serrated margin of the leaves or tools. The eye may be injured due to the hit of the leaves. Labour gets back pain during cutting the sugarcane of mother shoot and this operation gives low efficiency and needs more time and cost.
Considering the above problems and improve the efficiency of farm workers a hand operated farm tool for removing mother shoots of sugarcane crop was invented by Dr.P.Kamaraj, Assistant Professor (Farm Machinery) and Professor A.Tajuddin in the Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kumulur for the benefit of farmers and filed a patent application during 2013.
The Intellectual Property of India has granted patent (No.351648 dt.16.11.2020) for the invention of “Hand operated farm tool for removing mother shoots of sugarcane crop†for 20 years (2013-33). The tool consists of secateurs, operating lever, main frame and handle. The weight of the tool is less than 1 kg. Hence, it can be operated by a single woman in standing position without any difficulty. It will reduce the cost of cultivation and human drudgery. Also it helps to improve uniform tillering and increased number of tillers and millable canes per plant. By using this tool, sugarcane mother shoots are cut more than 800 numbers per hr approximately. This tool will save 50 per cent of labour and time.