December 2025
Smallholder farmers often face severe drudgery and environmental challenges in crop production. Cassava, an important crop in Kerala, India, is traditionally harvested by hand, which is labour-intensive, physically demanding and ecologically unsustainable. Two farmer brothers developed a cassava-harvesting tool that reduces drudgery, minimises soil erosion, and promotes eco-friendly agriculture. Supported by the Prolinnova network, the innovation is now spreading across India and has attracted international attention.
Cassava is widely cultivated in Kerala’s hilly regions, making the state the second-largest producer in India. For smallholder farmers, cassava serves as a key crop for both household consumption and local markets. Traditional harvesting involves bending down and uprooting the tubers by hand. This practice is extremely labour-intensive, causes strain to the back and knees, and loosens the soil, thereby increasing erosion risks. The burden falls disproportionately on women, who also carry the responsibility for weeding, another repetitive and physically demanding activity. Because of the difficulties involved, farmers often cut weeds at the stem, which only delays their growth rather than controlling them effectively.
The Innovation
In response to these challenges, two brothers, Jose K.V. and Jose Cheriyan from Thodupuzha in Idukki District, developed a lightweight and practical tool for uprooting cassava and weeds. The design is based on a simple principle: the stem of the plant is clamped between the jaws of the tool, and by gently tilting the handle backward, the plant is uprooted without requiring the farmer to bend forward. This small adjustment in technique transforms the harvesting process, as it significantly reduces the physical effort needed and minimises soil disturbance.
The tool is sturdy yet easy to handle and can be used by men, women and even children. It has been refined through several iterations, resulting in two specialised models: one designed for cassava harvesting and another for weed removal. Farmers who have adopted the tool report that it enables them to harvest two cassava plants or four deep-rooted weeds per minute, making the work faster, safer and less exhausting.
Adoption and Impact
The innovators established a small business to produce and distribute the tool. To date, more than 2,000 units have been sold. Feedback from farmers highlights multiple benefits: the reduction of physical strain and back pain, improved soil conservation due to minimal disturbance, and the prevention of damage to cassava tubers during uprooting. The tool has also been adapted beyond cassava fields, with medicinal plant farmers finding it particularly effective for harvesting Kurunthotti (Sida cordifolia), a perennial shrub. With the support of Kerala Startup Mission and UNDP Green Innovation Fund, Creativiti Council a non profit start up promoted the product among marginal farmers and NGOs.
Based on farmers’ experiences, the innovators have continued to improve the design. When users reported that the arch of the tool got bent in hard soils or when uprooting unusually large roots, the innovators reinforced the arch. Similarly, when the movable jaw occasionally broke in wet and soggy conditions, it was strengthened. Such ongoing improvements illustrate the dynamic process of farmer-led innovation, where feedback from the field continually shapes the refinement of technology.
Prolinnova’s Role
The Prolinnova network (PROmoting Local INNOVAtion in ecological agriculture and NRM), a global community of practice that recognises and promotes farmer innovation, has been instrumental in sharing this technology with a wider audience. In April 2024, the cassava-harvesting tool was featured at the Farmer Innovation Fair (FIF) hosted by Prolinnova–Kenya in Nairobi. Through short video presentations, Asian grassroots innovations were introduced to African farmer innovators and Agricultural Research and Development (ARD) partners, sparking great interest in cross-regional exchange.
Building on this momentum, Prolinnova in association with its host organization Peermade Development Society will organise its bi-annual International Partners Workshop (IPW) in Kerala in November 2025. This workshop will bring together partners from across Africa and Asia to exchange experiences and learn from each other. The programme will include exhibitions of farmer innovations, interactive sessions for knowledge-sharing, and field visits. Participants will have the opportunity to meet the innovators of the cassava-harvesting tool, visit their farms, and engage directly in discussions on local innovation and farmer-led experimentation.
Conclusion
The cassava-harvesting tool from Kerala is a striking example of how grassroots ingenuity can generate eco-friendly technologies that address both social and environmental challenges. By reducing drudgery, preventing soil erosion and safeguarding farmers’ health, the tool represents a step toward more sustainable smallholder agriculture. Its success also demonstrates the value of platforms like Prolinnova, which foster collaboration, facilitate cross-cultural exchange, and amplify farmer-led innovations. Such efforts ensure that locally developed solutions not only improve livelihoods in their immediate context but also inspire adaptation and replication worldwide.
James TJ A1, Bhavani Residency, Poothole PO, Thrissur, Kerala, India Pin-680004. E-mail:james.tj6@gmail.com Sharad Rai Golfutar, Buddhanilkantha-8, Kathmandu-44600, Nepal. E-mail: rsharad246@gmail.com
