Chandrike Cocoon Stand

Name : Late Shri Annegowdaannegauda

District & State :  Hassan, Karnataka

Category : Agro based food processing machinery

Award :   Consolation

Award Function :   4th National Grassroots Innovation Awards

Award Year : 2007

Innovation Description

Background

annegauda_innovationThe simple, environment friendly cocoon stand developed by late Shri Annegowda using mulberry sticks, is a cheap and useful alternative to conventional plastic cocoon stands.Mallikarjunapura village is 21 kms from Hassan towards Belur. The village is inhabited by around 80-90 families whose major occupation is agriculture. The chief crops cultivated by the occupants of the village are Jowar, Ragi, maize and rice. The main source of irrigation is ground water utilized through pumps and bore wells.Mr. Annegowda left for his heavenly abode on 14th May, 2006 at the age of 51 years. He is survived by his wife (45), a son (25) and a daughter (20). Both of his children are married and settled. His son now looks after fields. He was the eldest of seven siblings, six brothers and a sister.His father was also an agriculturist and cultivated Ragi crops on the 12 acres of land he owned. Along with his education, which he completed till class 10th, Annegowda used to help his father in day to day farm operations. He inherited two acres of land from his father and bought another three acres. Out of these total holding, mulberry, which is the chief source of his income, is being grown on two acres, areca nut, coconut and rice are being grown on one acre each. Four of his brothers are also engaged in farming, one owns a bakery and another is a driver. All the family members reside in the same village.

Genesis

It was sometime in early 1980?s when he visited some farmers in Belur area who were cultivating mulberry. Somehow he got interested in it and returned back contemplating over the idea of himself doing so. His portion of the land was a little away from the village. He established his farm there and started his mulberry cultivation. The mulberry leaves had to be carefully picked and carried over to his house from the farm which was proving to be a tedious process. Then around 20 years ago when he realized the need to be near his farm he shifted his house just next to the farm.Mulberry cultivation is prone to all types of pests and diseases attack. With a goal to develop disease free, eco-friendly and cheap alternative to the commonly available plastic and bamboo stands, Annegowda in 2003 developed cocoon spinning stand (mountages) ?Chandrike? made from mulberry stalks.Prior to development of mulberry ?Chandrike? farmer had been using the plastic and bamboo chandrikes but these boards were costly and their maintenance was very difficult. The disease was also transferred to next season through repeated use of these chandrikes leading to contamination.To solve all these problems, he initially thought of using traditional technologies such as using eucalyptus sticks and other locally available sticks. But these caused reduction in the quality of the cocoon. He started observing the stage at which the disease occurrence started and found out that most of the disease comes at the fifth stage of the lifecycle. He also during the same time observed that the mulberry shoots were less prone to diseases, so thought of making chandrikes out of these sticks.

Innovation

The chandrike prepared out of mulberry shoots are resistant to diseases. The silk worms are left on these chandrikes at the cocoon formation. These worms look for shelter and start cocoon formation on these boards.He made a couple of such stands before zeroing down to the present one. He was ably helped by his daughter and wife in the entire process.The traditional cocoon stands made from cardboard have a life of around 2-3 years while those made of plastic have a life of around 5-6 years. These plastic ones have a spinning capacity of around four kgs and cost around Rs 300. They require more maintenance especially in cleaning and disinfection.The cocoon stands he developed are simple and environment friendly as they are made of mulberry sticks mounted on a rope. These cost not more than Rs. 10 (only the cost of the rope) and can be used for 2-3 times and they have a spinning capacity of around 10 kgs. It is cheaper and durable than bamboo and plastic chandrikes and is very easy to maintain. Even woman can make them very easily. Another important feature is that the disease does not transfer from one season to another season as it is very easy to pick out the diseased cocoons. Harvesting the cocoon from these chandrikes is also very simple.Being simple in design the same is being used by farmers in the nearby areas like Aurohalli, Sidhhalli, etc. Just few months back another person has started practicing sericulture in the village, more than two decades after Mr. Annegowda introduced it here.He was a man of tremendous grit and determination. Despite negative feedbacks from his family and friends and many setbacks, he became the first person in the entire village and surrounding areas to start sericulture 20 years ago and till his untimely death was the only one to continue doing so. His father wanted him to settle down with their traditional agriculture practice but he had other ideas. His brothers, friends and others doubted the success of sericulture in the area as before him nobody had even tried it.Annegowda never gave in, his interaction with other farmers practicing sericulture and Belur Sericulture Department proved beneficial in his work. Special mention has to be made of the Officials from Sericulture department who visited his farm from time to time and encouraged and guided him.He wanted to make an organic pesticide for spraying on the mulberry fields. He even tried making such a pesticide using neem leaf mixture and even got some encouraging results. The yield obtained was slightly better. He also discussed with family members an idea to develop a de-flossing machine about which much detail was not divulged by him. His son though mentions that one day he would like to develop such a machine and dedicate it to his father.

http://nif.org.in/innovation/Chandrike_cocoon_stand/365

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