Introducing coconut dehusking tool in Solomon Islands

In Solomon Islands one of the major barriers of the farmers is de- husking.

Husking of coconut is among the most-difficult post-harvest operations relevant to coconut. It involves much human labor. At present, the husking is generally done manually using either a knife or a crowbar. Much skill, training, and endurance are required in this. This has been driving away women and young boys and girls from using it.

The traditional method of de-husking

Considering the drawbacks of existing manual husking methods, a coconut husking tool was designed and fabricated. The machine conceived shall have an upright twin-wedge assembly; one wedge stationary and the other movable. In its idle state, both the wedges remain together as if placed alongside. The coconut is impaled with both the hands on to the two wedge-like blades oriented upwards. On pulling the lever upwards by one hand, the movable wedge placed on the load arm of the lever swings away from the stationary wedge loosening a sector of the husk from the nut. By repeating twice or thrice the husk can be separated completely from the coconut. It takes only about 7- 15 seconds for husking a green nut depending upon the variety, maturity of nut and skill of operator. This was 9-18 seconds for dry coconut. It is light in weight (appx 2.5 kg), and simple to use and handle.Major components of the Pedal operated de husking machine are

1. A stationary wedge/blade

2. A movable wedge/blade

3. A hinge pin

4. A hinge boss/seat

5. A hand-lever

6. A pedestal with a base

In construction, it has two wedges; the stationary wedge and the movable wedge; forming a wedge assembly are arranged upwardly at the top-end of the pedestal mounted on a small but stable base. The stationary wedge is fixed directly on a hinge seat firmly fitted at the pedestal-top. The movable wedge is fastened to a long hinge-pin. The hinge pin is so secured in the hinge seat that it permits its swiveling, along with the movable wedge, to nearly 180⁰. The distant end of the hinge pin overhanging the hinge seat carries the hand-lever whose longitudinal axis is generally horizontal or inclined up to about 45⁰ below the horizontal. In the idle state, them movable wedge, under the action of its self-weight, rests against the stationary wedge. In use, the coconut is manually impaled on the two juxtaposed wedges causing the wedges to remain within the coconut husk. The hand-lever is then lifted upwards forcing the movable wedge to swivel away from the stationary wedge and rip apart a sector of the husk from the kernel. On releasing the hand lever, it returns to its initial position under its self-weight, and Causes the movable wedge to rest again against the stationary wedge. The coconut is then taken out of the juxtaposed wedges and another portion of the remaining husk is impaled on the wedges. The operations are repeated generally twice or thrice for completely removing the husk.

 The significant advantages include

1. The convenience and comfort offered by the hand-lever in exerting the force,
2. The stability in posture offered to the operator when operating it, and
3. The quick resetting of the two wedges to their juxtaposed position under the self-weight of the hand-lever.

This tool is very useful for the farmers, who are currently using chopping knives or machetes, crowbars, axes which is very difficult to use, need experiences and has safety risk. Farmers are collecting coconut from plantations which are mostly located 2 to 3 kilometres away from their villages and sometimes need to travel by boat. They normally collect 20 to 25 coconuts in one trip and the de husking and processing is done in the villages. With the help of a de-husking tool which is easy to handle and transport they can carry it with them to the plantations and de husk coconut on the spot and bring back with them 40 to 50 coconuts in one trip. Thus enabling them to carry more coconut by putting less effort.

In Solomon Islands, Noro we made a dehusking tool. A design was made on paper and with a help of a welder the tool was made using scrap materials in the warehouse.

The approximate cost of making the a tool is $ 150 to $200 SBD.