The Future of India’s Walnut Industry

chillibreeze writer — Afsana Rashid

Srinagar: The innovative walnut cracker is expected to revive the walnut industry of Kashmir Valley. Designed by a Kashmiri, the walnut cracker will replace the traditional cumbersome manual process involved before its marketing.

Powered by electricity, the walnut cracker devised by Mushtaq Ahmad Dar has a throughput capacity of 250-300 walnuts per minute.

“Its throughput can however be increased. Dar’s walnut cracker was crude and used two wooden drums. Our team along with Dar used iron drums with appropriate structures to enhance the efficiency of the machine and increase its throughput,” said G M Bhat, Director, University Science Instrumentation Centre (USIC) and Advisor, Entrepreneurship Development Cell (EDC), University of Kashmir, Srinagar.

“It would require many employees; still the through put would be less. Such a walnut cracker is not available even in China, where the walnut industry flourishes. Presently, it is a rough model but it can be modified at the latter stage. However, it is in working condition now,” he added.

Haling from Dooru in South Kashmir, Dar belongs to an economically weak section of society. Once the idea of walnut cracker struck him, Dar started looking for various agencies as he himself had no resources to give practical shape to his idea.

“We met Dar in a workshop at Ahmedabad where he approached us. We found the idea good and invited him to Kashmir University. We offered workshop facilities at the campus. Later, we spoke to one of the funding agencies, Grassroot Innovation Augmentation Network (GAIN), sister organization of NFI and they offered Rs 35,000 as assistance. Later, the model was created and we offered honorarium to Dar,” Bhat said.

Dar’s patent (certificate of security from Government of India to protect the right of the innovator for making and selling a machine) is under process.

Stating that the future of the walnut cracker is bright, Director USIC said, “Many people from Uttranchal have approached us. Besides, there may be many countries interested in the innovation.”

“Once the innovation is in the market, its cost would vary between Rs 5000 to Rs 6000, maybe even below that,” he added. Stressing the need for investment to put the innovation in the market, Director USIC said, “The cracker needs investment, but Dar cannot afford it himself. We need investors who will put the innovation in market and will pay royalty to the inventor,” he added.

When asked about its advantage, Bhat said that it can increase throughput and rejuvenate the walnut industry. “Some apprehend it can enhance unemployment, but that is not a valid argument,” he added.

When asked if the absence of electricity will render the machine lame, he said, “So far the idea did not occur to us, but then we can modify it. Paddles can be introduced at the lower side of the machine. Basically, if there is any such unit, government provides subsidy for generators and that would cater during the absence of electricity.”

When asked what assistance the University offers to Dar besides providing workshop facility, Bhat said that a proposal titled “Technology Incubation Cell” has been sent to the University authorities, and is under consideration. “We will develop the hidden talent of people with innovative ideas and pay them honorarium as well,” he said.

“Besides, GAIN cell Jammu and Kashmir will be established here to promote such activities and many problems will be automatically sorted out,” he added. Welcoming persons with innovative ideas, Director USIC said, “Anyone who has good and workable ideas can approach the department and we can offer him/her the workshop facility. The idea should simply be commercial.”

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—About our writer:

Afsana,

"A Srinagar-based journalist has many awards and fellowships to her credit". She has written a book, "waiting for Justice:widows and Half-widows"

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