Peeling of areca nut is one of the labour intensive process. This task is mainly carried out by ladies in the village. Areca nuts are harvested in different methods as well as different ripped conditions of the nut. Green areca nut is harvested after 80 to 90 days of maturity. In one bunch there will be several nuts some are more matured, few are under matured. Usually 10 to 15 % of the harvest will be over matured. Peeling of the over matured is very difficult by hand. Instead of peeling they scrap the outer skin by using sharp knife. This scraped one is usually called as ketta gotu. These scrapped ones are boiled and then dried. After drying these are once again scrapped by using knife and then sorted according to the quality. Market rate for this variety is always 40 to 30 % of the finest variety of the areca nut. Rains during the harvest season will enhance the quantity of the ketta gotu as the processing of the areca nut will be stopped and it will be allowed to over mature and then dried. When these nuts are peeled they will have white coat on the surface and more often outer skin can not be cleaned completely. They need further processing before sending it to the market.
In addition to peeling of the green areca nut peeling of red areca nut also carried out. This task of peeling of red areca nut is very tedious one and complete removal of shell is impossible one. This semi peeled one is further processed in traditional manner and dried. This product is
generally called as kettagotu /Gorubulu and goes to the market at nearly ¼ to 1/6th rate of the normal areca nut. This is mainly due to shape and also adherence of the parts of outer shell.
These kettagotu / gorubulu is further processed at market by scrapping individual nut by using knife. This is mainly done by ladies and children. They are paid at Rs. 3.00 per 5 kg and normally one will do about 20 kg in a day.
This problem has been observed by Shylaja Vittala and found that there is need a for mechanization in this part of the process so that value can be added to the areca nut. Developing machine was very difficult one as machine should address following points:
1. Areca nut is delicate one in its dried state and will brakes in to pieces after processed in
mechines.
2. Only outer parts of shell should be removed.
3. weight loss should be minimum
4. Machine applications should be easy so that even it can be handled by the ladies.
Keeping above requirement of the market Dharma Polisher has been developed over a period of three years of R&D. Dharma polisher is addressed all the above requirements and also handling capacities. Product has been test marketed and found good response from the users. The product has been sold in may parts of the chitradurga, shivamoga, arasikere.
For orders contact:
Dharma Technologies, 1st Cross, 60 ft Road, Sapthagiri Extn. (West). Upparahalli main Road, Tumkur, Karnataka- 572 102
: Ph: 0816-2292159, M: +919886737260, E-mail: shylaja_vittala@sify.com
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