Combining efficiency, safety, and high germination rates, the cutter aligns with sustainable agriculture goals while modernizing traditional cultivation practices

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has achieved a landmark in agritech innovation with the development of a sugarcane single bud sett cutter, recently awarded a 20-year patent by the Government of India’s Patent Office. Designed to enhance efficiency, reduce cultivation costs, and alleviate human drudgery, the machine promises to transform sugarcane propagation practices across the nation.

The cutter integrates a meticulously engineered main frame with a power transmission system, serrated cutting discs, protective safety shields, a stacker for whole cane feed, a delivery chute, vibration-reducing mounts, and four wheels for mobility. A 4-horsepower diesel engine drives the operation, with a V-belt transmitting power to a precision shaft fitted with dual serrated discs that perform the bud sett cutting. An acrylic observation panel enhances operator visibility, while a battery-powered counter tracks the number of setts processed.

Fabricated from 32 × 32 × 6 mm mild steel L-angles, the frame balances strength and weight, ensuring durability during high-speed operation. Performance trials at a blade rotational speed of 2,200 rpm with 200 mm diameter discs demonstrate the cutter’s versatility, allowing setts to be prepared in 30 mm, 35 mm, or 40 mm sizes through simple adjustment of disc spacing.

The machine processes up to 1,700 buds per hour and operates at a cost of just Rs 1,000 per hectare—substantially lower than the Rs 6,250 per hectare required by conventional bud chippers—delivering savings of more than 50 percent in both time and expense. Beyond economic advantages, the cutter significantly reduces the physical strain on agricultural labourers. Germination rates remain high, at 95 percent under protray nursery conditions and 90 percent under field conditions, underscoring the technology’s efficacy.

With overall dimensions of 1,270 × 510 × 1,130 mm and a price point of Rs 34,000, the cutter aligns with the principles of the Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI), which advocates single-budded chips to achieve uniform, millable seedlings. In India, which holds the second-largest sugarcane cultivation area globally after Brazil, innovations like this are critical to improving productivity and efficiency. Tamil Nadu, leading the country in yield with averages exceeding 100 t/ha, stands to benefit immensely from the mechanization and precision that TNAU’s invention provides.

By marrying ingenuity with practicality, this single bud sett cutter epitomizes the future of sugarcane farming—where advanced technology reduces costs, enhances yields, and empowers farmers while modernizing traditional agricultural practices.