We are developing a mechanical pod breaker that will improve the efficiency of cutting and separating cacao beans from their pods.
Project Type
- Test Potential Solutions
THE PROBLEM
The manual process of separating cacao beans from their pods presents numerous safety concerns and labor-intensive challenges. Farmers currently use machetes to cut and extract the beans while handling the pods manually, posing risks to the safety of farmers and the quality of the beans. The currently used manual method is also time consuming and affects the farmers' productivity.
There is a need for a safer and more efficient cacao pod separation process
THE SOLUTION
Kopernik will develop a prototype and test a mechanical device that separates cacao beans from their pods. The objective is to develop a faster and safer alternative compared to the currently used method.
Overview of device consisting of three parts; the handle, the upper cracker section , and the base compartment to place the cacao pods
Inside view of the device where the cacao pods are placed
Back view of device with two metal hinge joints
Upper view of device where the handle is elongated to minimize the force required to crack the cacao pods
Stress test of the device indicates success in breaking two cacao pods at once
THE EXPECTED IMPACT
The podbreaker device will enhance the safety and efficiency of farmers as well as the quality of cacao beans during the bean separation process.
THE PROJECT RESULT
In our initial experiment, the pod-breaking tool opened cacao pods only slightly faster than the traditional machete. While it did improve speed, it still required further enhancements in stability and sharpness. In the second iteration, the redesigned tool was slower than the machete; however, farmers found it more convenient to use.
The final design iteration included size adjustments, which resulted in improved pod-opening speed and enhanced safety features.
More detailed results of the experiment can be accessed through our Solutions Catalog.
PROJECT COST
Type
Description
Amount
Solution & Project Implementation
Costs associated with the purchase of the solutions tested and project coordination
$11,520
Monitoring & Evaluation
Costs associated with data collection, analysis and reporting
$3,480
Administration Fee
Cost of transferring payments internationally, processing online donations (5%) and a contribution to Kopernik's operational costs (15%)
$25,000
Total $40,000
This project is implemented by Yayasan Kopernik on behalf of our partner who provided grant funding for this project.
