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Details Of Innovation
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Normally, farmers remove the coconut from the whole nut using a crowbar. Instead of taking out the coconut from the whole nut, Mr. Duraisamy developed an iron-cutter. By using this cutter the whole nut can be split into two halves. Then it can be used for extracting the oil or for culinary purposes. At present he is fitting a motor of 0.5/1hp. so that the cutting of nuts can be mechanized. He advocates collecting fallen nuts instead of harvesting nuts; such nuts are fully matured and their oil content higher. These nuts should be stored for four and half months before their kernels are used for extracting oil. Normally nuts are stored for two months after harvest. By Duraisamys method of harvesting and storing, the kernel weight and oil content can be increased considerably. From one quintal of kernels, 7.5 kg. extra oil can be obtained. From one quintal of nuts, 15 kg. of kernels can be obtained instead of the regular 10 kg. of kernels by the ordinary method. He also uses this cutter for extracting oil from palmyrah nuts. By mechanizing this cutter (attaching a 0.5/1 hp. motor), 8,000 nuts can be broken as opposed to 80 nuts in the manual method; it saves on labour costs.
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