Kohima: L Holuto Ayemi, a farmer and educator from Tichipami-Suruhoto, has secured a patent for a specialized cardamom harvesting tool. He built the implement to fix a persistent farm problem. Random, homemade tools often tore into rhizomes and pseudostems. Ayemi needed something better. He used an 8 mm mild steel rod to craft the solution.
The tool is 15 inches long. It features a flattened, sharpened edge and a handle. Ayemi heats and shapes the steel at home. The design allows farmers to reach deep into dense bushes to cut stalks cleanly. It prevents injury to the plant. He calls the implement his Spike Cutter or Cardamom Harvester.
Ayemi spent nearly a decade refining the design. He first showcased the tool during an ATMA exhibition. Dr. Rakesh Kumar Chaurasia of KVK Zunheboto helped document the invention. The official certificate credits Ayemi as the lead innovator. It also lists Dr. Rakesh Kumar Chaurasia, Dr. AK Mohanty, Dr. AK Sinha, and Dr. PK Pathak as supporters. Ayemi previously earned a national innovation award from the ICAR-IARI in March 2020.
He prioritizes utility over prestige. "The greatest achievement is benefiting the farmer," he says. His farm school at Tichipami village provides hands-on training to farmers from Tuensang, Kiphire, and Zunheboto. He also mentors students and collaborates with the Horticulture Department. ATMA has already started distributing the tools to local growers.
Ayemi plans to build more equipment. He intends to solve other agricultural hurdles by staying close to the field. He continues to teach others how to handle the tool. His 2021 YouTube tutorial remains a key resource for farmers. He turns simple steel into essential gear.
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