A robotic tapper developed by a firm in Ernakulam is providing coconut growers with additional cash

KOCHI: Kerala is finding it difficult to raise output because of a lack of tappers, at a time when demand for neera—sap collected from coconut inflorescence—is rising and the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu has even started exporting the commodity to the US.

In light of this, the robotic tapper Sapper—created by the Ernakulam-based firm Nava Design and Innovation—becomes quite significant. When Thrissur Coconut Farmers’ Co. erected four Sappers on their property in Kuttanellur, the firm got its first client.

“We provided four Sappers to the organization, which consists of around eight Thrissur-based farmers’ collectives. Using our Sappers, they have been promoting the neera tapped,” says Nava Design founder Charles Vijay Varghese.

The business has ordered 100 additional Sappers in response to the success. Malaysia, a country with extensive coconut plantations and a significant toddy production industry, has also shown interest in the firm. For this innovation, the business has received patents in 28 countries. Charles explains how the Sapper works: “It consists of an automated unit attached to the coconut inflorescence and a ground-level container connected by a tube.” For around two or three months, the Sapper does not stop tapping the inflorescence.

In the past, a tapper had to scale a tree many times a day in order to make new incisions to the inflorescence, which would maintain the sap flow. “This work is lessened by the Sapper. One may then tap more trees as a result,” he continues.

The chairman of Thrissur Coconut Farmers Co., which sells neera under the trade name Thrissur Neera Co., E V Vinayan, adds, “This is cost-effective.” He disputes the notion that tappers would lose their jobs as a result of the Sapper’s widespread usage.

Rather, it reduces danger and burden. There will be a rise in productivity. A tapper may often work on seven to ten coconut trees in a single day. However, with the Sapper, tapping a hundred trees won’t be too tough. Consequently, tappers’ earnings will rise,” adds Vinayan.