Problem Addressed
Most groundnut farmers undertake the arduous task of manually separating seeds from their
shell followed by cleaning, grading and sorting. This is because commercial machines are
expensive.
Technology
The tractor PTO-powered innovation distinguishes itself by automating the entire process. Groundnut
pods poured into a hopper are carried up by an “elevator system”. Complete decortication happens
in a large shaking sieve. The sieve holes sort the seeds by size and specific gravity into three categories. The machine can process eight to ten tons of groundnut pods hourly, consuming about four to five litres of fuel. Achieving 98% efficiency in decortication, and about 90% in cleaning the seeds.
Societal Impact
The machine saves time and effort while also solving many of the post-harvest challenges of
groundnut cultivation. The farmers now save their own dry groundnut seeds, rather than buy
semi dry ones from the market which are harder to cultivate and damage prone.
Current status
The innovator has sold about 700 machines, of which 150 are tractor-mounted. He and his four
brothers are engaged in manufacturing and marketing them with the assistance of NIF.
