At a time when innovators in Kashmir are finding it difficult to provide a commercial platform for their innovations, it is a dream come true for a 36-year-old school dropout Mushtaq Ahmad Dar whose innovation, a walnut peeler, would soon hit retail markets in the valley.
Dar who belongs to Kreeri Shahabad village in Dooru tehsil of Anantnag district on Monday took part in a signing ceremony of technology transfer agreement with Kashmir Motors Group of Industries which will give rights to the firm to start commercial production of Dar’s innovation and undertake its marketing. Dar has been incubated and supported by National Innovation Foundation’s (NIF) J&K Cell at Kashmir University where the signing ceremony was held.
“Six years after I invented the creative walnut peeler device which peels green skin of walnut in an automated way, I have signed commercial agreement with the Srinagar-based farm equipment firm. I am a relieved man today as the production and marketing rights of the innovation lies with the company now,” said Dar while talking to media.
Innovator Dar said signing the business deal was the second happiest occasion for him, the first being when he invented the machine in 2012. Dar said he will use the upfront royalty of Rs 50,000 and 3 percent royalty of sales for his innovations from Kashmir Motors in days to come.
“I couldn’t continue my education and also was unable to clear my 10th board exams due to hardships at home. Life became more difficult after my father passed away in 1998 but as days passed I became more passionate for making innovations,” says Dar, who has bagged several national-level awards for his 21 innovations including “The Pole Climber” which helps a person to climb an elevated pole or tree with an automated support.
Dar who so far has sold 18 walnut peeler machines to farmers in his locality is exalted at receiving a commercial platform now. The innovator has used iron mesh and shaft plastic which rotates at a high speed with the help of a motor to peel green skin of 160 kilograms of walnuts per hour.
“This innovation saves almost 75 percent of manpower for walnut farmers and traders. Peeling walnuts manually is a strenuous process and the objective of this agricultural innovation is to make life easier for farmers,” says Dar.
Dar recounts that a few years ago, while breaking walnuts, the idea of devising the cracker struck him.
Dar is all praises for NIF for helping him to connect with the farm equipment firm which has taken over the patent of his product and will soon begin its full-scale production.
“Indian Innovatics, a firm based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat is at present providing me a 5 percent royalty plus Rs 2.5 lakhs upfront for the pole climber device. I hope KM Motors is able to continue supporting my inventions and lives upto its commitments,” says Dar.
Ufair Aijaz, promoter of Kashmir Motors says the commercial production of the walnut peeler will be assembled at a recently set-up factory. “Japan-based OEM (original equipment manufacturer) Honda is our partner and we use their vibrators and other engines for agriculture and farm equipments such as walnut peeler,” says Aijaz. He assured full support on behalf of his company for taking innovative technologies to the common people saying “innovations in the Valley need to be showcased and developed on a commercial level.”
GM Bhat, chairman NIF J&K Cell and director Institute of Technology, University of Kashmir congratulated the innovator as well as Kashmir Motors for collaborating for common good of the people of Kashmir. “Science and engineering is all about working out scientific gadgets and solutions to solve the problems faced by the society. There is a need for scientists, engineers and grass-root innovators to work together with local entrepreneurs for development and commercialisation of useful technological products, which will strengthen the industrial sector in J&K and address the unemployment problem in the state,” Bhat said.
