Arecanut trees have to be climbed three times a year for harvesting. This work involves many risks, and only skilled laborers can do this. Suresh came up with the idea of making a machine to help climb the Arecanut tree. His prototype could carry a man and work on electricity. However, the power supply was an issue, so he fabricated a petrol engine-based automated Arecanut climbing and harvesting machine. The device is powered by a 42cc petrol engine operated using a remote/ mobile app. It comprises dumbbell-shaped rubber grip rollers clamped on the tree, and their rolling motion along the tree trunk provides upward motion. It is a self-adjusting machine for diameters wearing between 100 to 203 mm of the tree and can climb over dents or bumps in the surface of the tree. The machine works on the forward, reverse, neutral, and cutting modes. An accelerator is provided to control the rate of climb. The machine has been designed so that on full throttle, it can climb the tree in 1 minute (approx. 50- 60 ft), perform the cutting operation in 1 minute, and climb down the tree in another minute. The device weighs approx. 28 kg and can run for around 3 hours on 1 l of petrol. By any chance, if the machine stops functioning while climbing up or down the tree, a rope connected to it will enable the user to bring it down without climbing the tree.
The innovation enables safety and effective labor performance for Arecanut cutting and harvesting. It has also helped reduce injury and fatalities among laborers climbing the Arecanut tree. Suresh was awarded the third prize at the 10th Biennial innovation award of the national innovation foundation inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind in Gujarat.