Fodder: Utilization of

arecanut sheath

 The livestock sector has a good growth potential. It is an

important source of livelihood for small farmers and contributed
about 16% income, more so in states like Gujarat (24.4%),
Haryana (24.2%), Punjab (20.2%) and Bihar (18.7%).
The growth of the sector dependent upon the availability of
fodder and feed
The present fodder availability in the country is well below
requirement.
The data also reveals that only about half of the annual fodder
requirement is met from the cultivated fodder and crop residues,
whereas open grazing and fodder availability from common
property resources like forests, pastures, village commons, etc.
fulfills the remaining half of the annual fodder requirement

Trend in livestock population (million)

 Over the last two decades availability of various

types of feed has increased. Even though availability
of feed resources vary from area to area, but during
this period, the country as a whole recorded 52%
(240.7 to 365.8 Mt), 76.0% (19.6 to 34.5 Mt) and 1.8%
(124.3 to 126.6 Mt) increase in crop residues,
concentrates and green forages respectively. In spite
of this, there is a gap in the availability vs.
requirement. As per estimates, the deficit of dry
fodder, concentrates and green fodder currently is
10, 33 and 35 percent respectively, which by 2020 is
likely to be 11%, 35% and 45%.

Engineering intervention
Harvesting:
Collection
Handling
Storage: Size reduction
Value addition

Background
Areca Catechu Linn- important Palm
India highest producer area under cultivation
(381,000 Hectares)
Karnataka (40.87 %)
Kerala, Assam, Meghalaya, W.Bengal, Tamil Nadu,
Andaman & Nicobar
The sheath attached to the leaf of arecanut tree is available for any
productive purpose

COUNTRYWISE
AREA(000ha), PRODUCTION(000tonnes) &
PRODUCTIVITY(kg/ha)

COUNTRY Area
India

2000
Prodn. Yield

289.00 334.40

2003
Prodn.

Area

Yield

2006
Prodn.

Area

Yield

1157

354.26

415.88

1174

381.10

483.14

1268

Indonesia

82.60

37.60

455

118.78

46.80

394

124.96

51.88

415

China

51.62 166.98

3235

50.79

159.58

3142

52.00

150.00

2885

Bangladesh

77.00

45.00

584

77.30

55.00

712

78.00

55.00

705

Mynamar

33.95

39.10

1152

36.00

57.00

1583

36.00

57.00

1583

Thailand

13.00

20.00

1538

16.00

27.00

1688

16.00

27.00

1688

Malaysia

2.00

3.30

1650

0.80

1.30

1625

0.80

1.30

1625

Maldives

0.03

0.01

467

0.05

0.04

745

0.04

0.33

8325

2.02

3.86

1909

11.97

24.61

2056

Nepal
Sri Lanka
Kenya
WORLD

0.09
549.20 646.48

0.09
1177

653.97

762.69

0.09
1166

702.89

854.22

1215

Existing alternative use

v Degradable natural disposable plates
v Manure

2-3 plates per sheath

Physical Characteristic of sheath

250 to 400 mm wide
1000 to 1400 mm length
3 to 15 mm thick

Requirements

Capacity more than 100kg/hr

Output size below 10 mm free from dust
Compact
Low power equipment so that it can be operated with
single phase electricity connection
Can chop Arecanut sheath of different moisture
content
Can chop Arecanut sheath waste from plate making
industries

8-10mm

8-10mm

Size reduction machine..

Optimum speed of cutting drum

rotation -800 rpm (14.66 m/s)

Designed
Power requirement- 3 hp
Capacity : 100 kg/hr
Low cost = Rs. 25,000/ Portable
Low dust
12