Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 04 March 2025
ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CIARI) has licensed its patented technology on the cinnamon bark rubbing tool, ‘Dweep CinnRub,’ to an island entrepreneur. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, Director of ICAR-CIARI, and Mrs. R. Karthika Devi, a young entrepreneur from South Andaman, in the presence of the institute’s scientific staff.
ICAR-CIARI, a premier agricultural research institute, is dedicated to developing farmer-friendly technologies for both the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and mainland India. Among its recent innovations is the cinnamon bark rubbing tool, designed to address the challenges of cinnamon harvesting.
True cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) is a highly valued tree spice with extensive applications in the flavor, fragrance, and pharmaceutical industries. India imports cinnamon and cassia worth approximately Rs. 900 crore annually to meet domestic demand. Promoting cinnamon cultivation in the country is crucial to reducing this dependency, but the labour-intensive harvesting process has been a deterrent for farmers.
The harvesting of cinnamon involves multiple steps, including scraping the outer bark, rubbing the stems, and carefully extracting the inner bark. Due to the skill required, only a limited number of people are proficient in this process, increasing harvesting costs. Additionally, no specialized tool has been available for the rubbing process, resulting in quality loss and inefficiency.
To address this gap, ICAR-CIARI researchers Dr. Ajit Arun Waman and Dr. Pooja Bohra developed ‘Dweep CinnRub,’ a user-friendly tool designed to streamline cinnamon harvesting while conserving time and labour. The innovative tool is expected to benefit existing cinnamon cultivators in coastal and island states, as well as farmers in regions where cinnamon cultivation is expanding.
Recognising the importance of making this technology accessible, ICAR-CIARI licensed the tool to Mrs. R. Karthika Devi, who aims to mass-produce and distribute it to stakeholders nationwide. Expressing his satisfaction, Dr. Chakurkar commended the young woman entrepreneur for her initiative and extended his best wishes for her venture.
The licensing of ‘Dweep CinnRub’ marks a significant step in supporting sustainable cinnamon cultivation in India and empowering local entrepreneurs in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. (Story Based on PR)