In a major push toward gender-inclusive agricultural mechanization, the Bhubaneswar-based ICAR–Central Institute for Women in Agriculture (ICAR-CIWA) deployed indigenously designed Pedal-Operated Women-Friendly Coconut Dehuskers to 50 women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across Puri district.
The technological rollout covers 19 villages across 11 Gram Panchayats in Satyabadi, Brahmagiri, Kanas, and Delanga blocks, directly benefiting over 500 women farmers, with priority given to empowering Scheduled Caste agrarian households.
Tackling Drudgery and Occupational Hazards
While coconut cultivation underpins coastal Odisha’s rural economy, post-harvest dehusking has traditionally relied on primitive, dangerous methods using machetes or fixed iron spikes. These traditional techniques often led to severe palm lacerations, chronic musculoskeletal strain, and extreme fatigue for women laborers.
ICAR-CIWA’s pedal-operated dehusker solves these physical challenges through targeted ergonomic design:
- Lower-Limb Mechanical Advantage: Uses leg power rather than arm strain to strip fibrous husks.
- Enhanced Safety: Keeps hands away from sharp blades, mitigating workplace injuries.
- Higher Productivity: Significantly increases processing throughput per hour compared to traditional manual methods.
Hands-On Training for Self-Reliance
To ensure smooth adoption, the deployment was coupled with comprehensive hands-on training sessions in all four blocks. Beneficiaries received practical guidance on operational calibration, safety protocols, and routine machine maintenance to ensure immediate operational self-reliance.
Highlighting the vision behind the initiative, Dr. Mridula Devi, Director of ICAR-CIWA, emphasized that agricultural tools must be tailored to women’s ergonomic needs. She noted that reducing drudgery and eliminating workplace hazards is key to safeguarding dignity, improving health, boosting household income, and fostering sustainable rural entrepreneurship among women collectives.
