Grassroot Innovations

Conventionally, the clove buds are removed from the stalk manually after harvesting. For the separation of clove buds, 40 labours are required to process approximately 600 kg of clove buds in a day, making it a labour and a time-consuming process. This innovative machine separates stalks and clove buds from clusters by rubbing. The bud cluster is passed through a cylindrical drum inside which three spiral blades rotate, resulting in rubbing and separation of stalk and buds. A one hp motor operates the machine. This machine can process 400 kg clusters per hour with an efficiency of 99%. By the conventional method, costing of bud separation comes to be Rs. 12/kg, while using this machine, it comes to less than Rs. 1/kg.

The Clove Bud Separator offers several advantages over manual clove separation:
Reduced Labor Costs: Achieves a 99% separation efficiency with minimal human intervention, significantly reducing the need for manual labor (40 laborers processing 600 kg/day vs. the machine processing 400 kg/hour).
Increased Efficiency: Processes clove buds 15 times faster than manual methods, translating to quicker turnaround times and potentially higher output.
Cost-Effective Operation: Lowers separation cost per kilogram from Rs. 12 to less than Rs. 1, leading to significant cost savings for clove producers.
Gentle Separation: The rotating blades likely separate the cloves with minimal damage, potentially improving the quality of the cloves.