Farmers in Hosakote village, Kolar district, Karnataka, witnessed a significant step forward in sericulture on October 31 with the demonstration of a new Mulberry Shoot Harvester-cum-Bundling device. This innovative machine promises to ease the strenuous work and reduce labor dependency in mulberry cultivation.
The development of this advanced harvester is the result of a joint research initiative between the Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSRTI) in Mysuru and SRR Agro Industries, based in Sircilla, Telangana. Their shared goal is to bring much-needed mechanization to the sericulture sector.
Currently, the machine is undergoing thorough testing at the Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute (AEC&RI) in Kumalur, a part of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), which serves as the official government testing agency. TNAU experts Kavipriya and Vijayakumar have been meticulously evaluating its performance in the Kolar region over the last three days.
The recent field demonstration was specifically organized to inform and educate sericulture farmers and other key stakeholders about the machine’s capabilities and its potential impact.
The event saw the presence of several prominent figures, including P. Sivakumar, Member Secretary and CEO of the Central Silk Board (CSB); P. Deepa, Director of CSRTI, Mysuru; scientists Nazeer Ahmed and R. Mahesh Paramesh; and Praveen Kumar representing SRR Agro Industries.
Farmers who attended the demonstration reportedly expressed great satisfaction with the machine’s performance. They particularly praised its efficiency in both pruning and harvesting mulberry shoots, recognizing its potential to substantially decrease manual labor and hardship, ultimately boosting overall productivity in their mulberry farms.