India’s CTCRI at Thiruvananthapuram develops and gets Patent for size-based Chinese potato grader

The Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CTCRI) in Thiruvananthapuram, India, has successfully developed and obtained a patent for a size-based Chinese potato grader, addressing a longstanding challenge for farmers. Grading Chinese potatoes (koorka) based on their size has historically posed significant time and labor challenges. The newly patented power-operated grader, along with its grading method, marks a substantial advancement in this area.

This innovative grader, driven by a prime mover and designed to reduce labor and costs, operates on the principle of rotational motion. It efficiently sorts the tubers into four different size classes: small (below 20 mm diameter), medium (20.1-30 mm), large (30.1-40 mm), and very large (above 40 mm), as detailed by the CTCRI, an institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).