Srinagar, Feb 24: The Division of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering (FMPE) at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Shalimar, Srinagar, has developed a saffron corm grader to help farmers save time and effort in grading corms.
Dr. Kalay Khan, Assistant Professor in the Farm Machinery Department at SKUAST, told Rising Kashmir that the machine was developed at the SKUAST-K faculty startup, Farmdraft Equipment Pvt. Limited, and showcased at GONGUL – 10th SKUAST-K Agritech Mela.
He said that the power-operated saffron corm grader can classify corms into three categories: Grade I (up to 15mm), Grade II (up to 35mm), and Grade III (up to 50mm). It features an inbuilt vibratory feed mechanism to enhance the flow of corms, has a grading capacity of 300 to 400 kg per hour, and is equipped with safety guards.
Dr. Khan added that the machine’s adjustable grading mechanism allows it to be used for grading garlic, onions, and walnuts as well. “Corm grading is time-consuming, but this innovation is expected to save farmers both time and effort,” he said.
Prof. Jagvir Dixit, Head, Div. of FMPE, said that Saffron cultivation is highly labor-intensive, with most field operations being carried out manually. There is a significant need for quality machinery to perform various field operations accurately and in a timely manner, which would help saffron cultivators achieve better returns.
He said that along with the grader, SKUAST-K has developed several other small machines to aid saffron cultivation. A hand-held saffron flower harvesting cum collection device, which is battery-operated, enables a single person to harvest one hectare of saffron within 6 to 14 hours.
Besides, a tractor-drawn saffron corm digger has been designed to extract saffron corm bulbs with minimal damage, reducing cultivation costs. Another key innovation is the tractor-drawn saffron corm planter cum bed maker, which ensures uniform depth and spacing while planting saffron corms.
Prof. Rohitashw Kumar, Associate Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology (CoAE&T), said that Saffron cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir is declining year by year due to the lack of innovative mechanization in saffron farming. He said that to sustain saffron farming, it is urgently necessary to introduce mechanization interventions to reduce labour costs and increase the interest of young people in saffron cultivation.
