Implements for Himachal Pradesh
Horticulture Industry
December 2020
Industrial Design Case Study • Degree Project
Sahaayak
Documentation of an apple orchard
Link
THE CONTEXT
The ₹4000 Cr. Apple Economy of Himachal
India - 7th in the world and Himachal - the 2nd largest producer of apples in India.
Apples make up to 80% of the states’ total fruit economy. Around 1,12,500 hectares of land in under apple cultivation, which constitutes more than 50% of the total area under fruit cultivation. 9 out of 12 Districts in the State produce apples and 39,460 hectors of land is under cultivation in Shimla district alone, which accounts for the highest area of the crop under cultivation.
The livelihood of 1.5 Lakh Families in Himachal Pradesh
According to 1988-89 census, 1,13,357 orchardists/farmers throughout the State were engaged in apple production. This has now increased to more than 2,00,000.
THE PROBLEM
But wait! Do the farmers also make this much money?
The share that’s left up to fate!
The money that these apple growers make, it is directly proportional to the quality of apple they deliver.
In the planting stage, they have little or no control over how the crop might turn out as it depends on the weather conditions/ climate factors. But during the harvesting and packaging stage, significant changes can be made in order to protect fruit from damage and get a better value for the crop.
Significant steps can be taken during the Collection & Packaging stage to ensure quality of apples and help farmers make a good return
OPPORTUNITY
THE RESEARCH
Collecting experiences and insights in the Himalayas
When & Where?
7,617 ft above sea level
The research was conducted at Kothkhai, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh which is located at a height of 7,617 ft above sea level, in the Harvesting season of September 2020.
Understanding the Task & User
Observing the task and user to gain insight through field research, Journey maps, Personas & empathy mapping.
REBA - Rapid Entire Body Assessment tool
This ergonomic assessment tool uses a systematic process to evaluate whole body postural MSD ( Muscular Skeletal Disorders) and risks associated with job tasks.
Ergonomic Assessment
Current method used by the Labourer to carry apples from point A to B , puts the user at high risk, and in need of urgent amends.
Key Takeaways of User research
It was clear to me that my user was not going to be just the Orchardist but also the workers on the field who do most of the work in this labour intensive task.
After my research I realised that the Users simply lacked the knowledge required to take the risks and make some big changes. But that was also because they were stuck in their traditional ways of doing things.
Ready to invest but lacking the means to make the right investments.
Dependent on forwarding agent: for most of their business and sales.
Labourers are exploited and their work comes in high risk category.
The Scope
I decided to focus on the Plucking & Gathering and Transferring stage of the Apple harvesting process and provide an aid to both the Apple growers as well as the Labourers by reducing the damage caused to the Apples, protecting the Tree as well as mitigating the health hazards caused, during manual material handling by the labourers.
GATHERING
PLUCKING
TRANSFERRING
To design a viable and ergonomic gathering and transferring solution for the labourers in the apple orchards along with an intuitive apple packaging solution for the growers, all in a cost-effective manner.
THE AIM
IDEATION
Diverging to Converge
Rough sketches and ideas
Initially I started working on solutions for all three problem areas -Plucking & Gathering ,Transferring & Packaging. But then decided to stick to the first three only.
FINAL CONCEPTS
Not a product but a System!
1
Plucking
Reduces Damage of apples caused due to climbing on the tree.
Reduces risk factor for the labourer & is specially designed for the step farming terrain
2
Gathering
Ergonomically designed carrying basket for the labourer’s convenience with no risk
Protects apple in commute with padded walls & has more capacity than crates
3
Transferring
Reduces Damage caused to apples & trees due to mishandling in the transfer process
Multipurpose bag, with bristles in pipe to protect fruit & makes the process speedy.
This system as a whole works seamlessly when the Ladder is used to pluck the apples and the Amassing bag, attached to the ladder acts as a convenient way to collect apples as it allows to transfer the apples directly to the carrying bad through a pipe with bristles to protect the apple. The Apples can then easily be transferred to the Godown in a feasible way.
This solution helps us avoid damage to the Tree, the Apples & the Labourers.
How does all this add up?
VALIDATE
Making it real!
Prototyping and testing
Finally I made the 3D models of the design to understand the materials better.
3D Modelling
Image
RESTROSPECT
The Joy of giving back!
It is hoped that with the implementation of the solution provided in this project, the apple growers will benefit as the damage to their trees and crops will be significantly minimised, which in turn will definitely reflect in the value they receive for their crop.
It is also hoped that the solution is able to ease the labour intensive tasks involved in the process of harvesting apples by providing a convenient method of plucking and gathering apples as well as a more comfortable way of transporting apples from the orchard to the godown/grading station.
Conclusion
My wish was to help my community by aiding Apple growers in of my state and also, try to help the labourers, whose needs were neglected.
INTENTION
PACKAGING
Due to time constraint, I was not able to produce a solution for the packaging stage. But through my research, I transpired that there is a lot of scope of implementing viable design solutions, which can benefit both, the apple grower as well as the state of Himachal Pradesh as it may give rise to multiple opportunities for exporting Himachal apples.
Scope for Future
THERE'S MORE IN HERE….
Find me
It's nice to have you here! 🦚
This is my digital heartspace where you may explore my work to see how I'm making a living, dive deeper into my knacks to see how I'm living a making, check out what I'm upto & learn more about me or read my CV for a glance at my professional life. But whatever you do, know that only love surrounds you!! :)
Copyright © 2024 Gauri • Made with 🩵 in the Hills!