Development and Demonstration of a Manually Operated Sugarcane Mother Shoot Cutter

India ranks second in the world for sugarcane cultivation after Brazil, with an area of 4.7 million hectares and a productivity of 72 tonnes per hectare. However, traditional sugarcane farming methods require significant inputs such as water, seed, labor, land and fertilizers. Additionally, conventional tools like secateurs, knives, and sickles used for removing the mother shoot are inefficient and unsafe, leading to increased physical strain, a higher risk of hand and eye injuries and excessive drudgery for agricultural laborers. This study aimed to develop a more efficient and safer tool for removing the mother shoot in sugarcane cultivation, in line with the Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI). A manually operated sugarcane mother shoot cutter was developed, incorporating key components like a main conduit pipe, secateurs, operating lever, handle and handle grip. The tool was designed for use in a standing posture, reducing effort and physical strain. After being evaluated and demonstrated to sugarcane farmers in field conditions, the developed tool proved effective. Weighing only 0.8 kg, it allows operators to work in a standing position with minimal effort. The tool cuts approximately 800 shoots per hour, resulting in a 16% time saving and a 19% reduction in costs. It not only lowers cultivation costs but also reduces human drudgery. The tool's key innovation lies in its simple design, which enables efficient operation while standing, decreasing the risk of injuries associated with traditional tools and eliminating the physical strain commonly encountered during the labor intensive process of mother shoot removal. By aligning with the principles of the Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative, the tool optimizes resource usage and enhances productivity.